Why Man City are facing 60-point deduction and potential relegation from Premier League
By Joel Masibo, February 26, 2026Premier League title contenders Manchester City have been cautioned that a massive points penalty, potentially as high as 60, would be a reasonable outcome if they are found responsible for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations in the long-running case involving 115 separate charges.
The investigation has dragged on for several seasons, with no final decision yet announced, prompting growing speculation over what sanctions could follow. While the Premier League does not have the authority to drop City directly into the English Football League, a range of other punishments remains under discussion.
Awaiting final ruling
Claims of financial wrongdoing have surrounded the club since early 2023, after a prolonged review of its accounts. Although the independent hearing concluded toward the end of 2024, more than a year has passed without an official verdict. The prolonged uncertainty continues to fuel debate, even as City strongly deny any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, another domestic campaign could finish before the case is resolved, with Pep Guardiola’s team still competing for silverware both in England and Europe.
Case dragging
The delay in delivering a verdict has been attributed to the sheer scale and complexity of the case. Reports suggest that hundreds of thousands of documents were submitted by both sides, making the evaluation process extremely demanding. In addition, the difficulty of coordinating schedules among the senior figures responsible for issuing the final judgment has also contributed to the slowdown.
It is understood that once the ruling is ready, both Manchester City and the Premier League will be given brief advance notice to allow their legal teams time to review the decision. Concerns remain that the timing of the verdict could cause major disruption, particularly if it arrives close to the end of the season.
Potential penalties
With more than 115 alleged violations under scrutiny, any disciplinary outcome could be severe. Should City be found guilty, especially of failing to cooperate with investigators, a heavy financial fine would likely be imposed. However, the most significant sanction being discussed is a substantial points deduction, which could dramatically reshape the Premier League table.
Although relegation by direct order is not an option, a sufficiently large points penalty could still drag City into the relegation zone. Comparisons have been drawn with previous cases involving Everton and Nottingham Forest, who received six- and four-point deductions, respectively, for single breaches over a three-year period. By contrast, the allegations against City span nearly a decade, suggesting that any punishment would need to be far more severe to reflect the scale of the accusations.
As a result, a deduction in the region of 40 to 60 points is widely considered a logical benchmark if guilt is established. Beyond that, further sanctions could include sweeping changes to the club’s leadership structure, especially if findings extend beyond simple financial rule violations into more serious misconduct.
Could City be relegated?
It is also believed that a heavy enough points deduction could still result in Manchester City dropping out of the Premier League. While the legal process is slow and often frustrating, it is expected that any final ruling will follow established precedents. Given that sporting penalties usually form the backbone of such decisions, a large points cut could realistically lead to relegation.
At present, City remain second in the Premier League standings, five points behind Arsenal, and are still active in the Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. However, their future in the top flight could depend entirely on the outcome of this landmark case.