Ex-Man City chairman predicts 'drastic' sanctions as Premier League rivals plan response

Manchester City have been left facing a massive bill and backlash - and could be heading for an even bigger “disaster.”

Rival clubs are plotting huge legal actions against the former champions after the guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial rules.

They believe they could be due hundreds of millions in compensation if City are proven to have cost them Champions League football, commercial deals, bonuses and prize money.

But City have also been warned by one of their biggest fans that dragging out a long appeal process would see the club’s already “tarnished” name damaged even further.

Former City chairman David Bernstein said: “To see all this tarnished in this way is very sad, I feel particularly bad for the wonderful supporters of the club who’ve stayed with the club through thick and thin.

Get our comprehensive football coverage, with news, updates, opinions, analysis and everything that matters to you, straight to your inbox.

To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest news, analysis and much more on Mirror Football's Facebook page

“This whole process has taken too long already. So the appeal process now has to be done quickly because…you’ve got the club playing with this cloud over its head and it’s just not viable.

“The appeal process cannot go on for year after year, I think that would be a disaster. Not just for this particular case but for English football generally.”

There are fears that if City launch an appeal - which was described as “inevitable’ by one executive of another club - then that could drag on because a different panel would have to be set up to hear a review of the case.

That would cast a huge shadow over the Premier League while it goes on and if it is not resolved during the course of the season then it could see City be crowned champions despite having been found guilty which would be unthinkable.

Former FA chairman Bernstein, talking to Times Radio, believes any punishment must be way beyond a fine. He added: “I can’t give a view on the punishment. If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of 115 charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty.

“All I would say is that money is not sufficient, it would have to be something, unfortunately, more drastic than that.”

City have not confirmed anything but issued a statement insisting the process is ongoing. But this latest development has left the whole football world in meltdown.

The alleged offences - they are believed to have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges - came between 2009 and 2018 during which time they became the most dominant team in English football.

Premier League rivals are certain to look at their options. Burnley made a claim against Everton in June after the Merseyside club’s PSR breach in 2021. Burnley claimed it gave them a sporting advantage and were awarded £35.1m.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham are believed to have taken out a legal notice and reserved their Section W of the competitions rules and some estimates suggest they could be in line for £200m each.

But it is highly likely that other clubs - despite being bound by time constraints under a statute of limitations and also effectively being part of a “private members’ club” within the Premier League rules - could also attack the process and push for compensation.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “I think most football fans will be feeling this is not a good moment for football as a whole and I think Manchester City fans will be feeling very anxious about what happens next.

“You’ll know this is a really long standing investigation, it dates all the way back to allegations that begin in 2009. There is still a way to go with the investigation, Manchester City is contesting the charges.

“The football fans need to know the rules are applied fairly and consistently, they need to know they’re upheld and they need to know the right decision has been reached.

“We do have a way to go with this, it’s very unsettling for football fans and I hope that it can be resolved as swiftly as possible.”