LONDON: Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson has claimed that anything could happen, including the most drastic possibility of relegation from the Premier League (EPL), after the club was found guilty of breaching the league’s financial regulations.
The Premier League has accused the club of widespread financial ‘fraud’ throughout their period of continued success, with the independent panel proceedings ending in 2024.
Since then, there has been a frustrating wait for a decision, but Daily Mail Sport sources have revealed that clubs have been informed the panel has now reached a decision and there is a belief that the decision is in favour of the English top flight.
City are understood to have been found guilty of all but one of 115 charges of breaching rules relating to the Premier League’s financial regulations.
Borson, who was an advisor to Man City between 2002 and 2007, was asked by talkSPORT whether the most drastic option of relegation from the Premier League could be imposed as punishment following the decision.
“Anything can happen and things are going to be very chaotic right now, because this is going to drag on for weeks,” Borson said.
“It will be very difficult for City to say anything or control the impact of this situation and that too without being able to see what the decision entails.”
“We will almost certainly see the independent commission’s decision explained in detail soon, and it will give the public plenty of material to attack the individuals involved as well as the club.”
“Then we will enter the sentencing process, which will be conducted behind closed doors.”
“Man City have denied everything throughout this process, they have gone through a process that could have cost over £100 million between the two parties and they have been found to have breached almost everything.
“They are in very, very serious trouble.”
An appeal from Man City is considered inevitable as the club has consistently denied any wrongdoing since they were charged by the Premier League in February 2023.
A Manchester City spokesman said: “The Premier League process is ongoing, with a number of key matters still to be resolved and subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement in February 2023.
“The club has respected due process for eight years based on the assumption that the Board and the management of the Premier League will act as an independent, impartial and fair regulatory body, free from influence from other parties.”
Borson claimed that Man City’s appeal was too slim to succeed and considered the club’s statement to show the arguments that could be used to overturn the decision.
“An appeal based on the facts is highly unlikely to succeed,” he said.