Manchester City could face heavy punishment if their appeal against the financial breaches verdict fails, with rival Premier League clubs calling for title stripping, points deductions and transfer bans.
An independent commission found City guilty of all charges over financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. City has appealed the decision.
BBC Sport reports that some clubs want sanctions to cover both the period of the breaches and City’s future in the Premier League. At least four club boardrooms believe relegation from a single points deduction would not be enough.
One senior club source said City should lose the titles won during the period. The source said there was “no great rush” to hand the trophies to other clubs, but warned the league’s credibility could suffer if City kept the eight major honours.
However, some clubs reportedly oppose taking away the titles.
For future punishment, some officials want points deducted across several seasons instead of one, calling a single-season penalty a “bump in the road”. There is also support for transfer bans across several windows.
One club source called it “bizarre, almost obtuse” if City could use the January window while the case continued.
A “tariff-based system” has also been proposed, with past league finishes adjusted and rival clubs compensated.
City maintains its innocence.
Meanwhile, manager Enzo Maresca will speak to his players after international duty before Sunday’s Liverpool clash. Merseyside Police will have “an appropriate policing operation in place on the day”.
Liverpool considers the game “business as usual”, while one source said fans had “the right to express their feelings”.
