BERNSTEIN SAYS FINES ALONE INSUFFICIENT IF CITY PUNISHED

Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of 115 charges brought by the Premier League over alleged breaches of financial rules, according to reports on Friday, though the Premier League has made no official announcement and has given no indication of any punishment. David Bernstein, who chaired the club between 1998 and 2003, said financial penalties alone would not be sufficient, telling Times Radio he could not give a view on the exact sanction but that it could be "drastic". City deny the charges and a club spokesperson said that position remains unchanged, adding that the club had "diligently respected due process for eight years" on the expectation that the Premier League would act as an "independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator". The club is expected to appeal should the guilty finding be upheld.

The charges relate to alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, a period during which City won numerous major trophies, and follow a Premier League investigation opened after charges were first brought in February 2023. City are accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, breaching financial sustainability rules, and failing to cooperate with the investigation. An independent commission hearing into the case began in September 2024. Bernstein, who described himself as a City supporter of 70 years, said he felt "absolutely awful" and "in shock" on hearing the reports, and said the club's period of success had been "tarnished".

Bernstein urged the Premier League to conduct any appeal process quickly, warning that prolonged uncertainty would not be "viable" for the club and could prove damaging for English football more broadly. Retrospective removal of trophies has been cited as one possible sanction, though no punishment has been confirmed. Scotland captain Andy Robertson, speaking after Liverpool finished second to City in the 2019 and 2022 title races, said City's players should not be blamed or stripped of their achievements over the actions of the club's ownership. The Premier League has not confirmed a timetable for any further announcement or sanction.