Confirmation of Everton being docked 10 points by the Premier League has left more questions than answers about the punishment(s) that could be coming Manchester City's way.
The Toffees were deducted 10 points with immediate effect on Friday after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules. Premier League rules state that clubs are permitted to lose £105million over three years, and an independent commission found Everton's losses to 2021-22 amounted to £124.5m.
Sean Dyche's side have now fallen from 14th to 19th in the table, with only goal difference keeping them off the bottom. Everton have confirmed they will appeal the decision and a verdict is expected to be reached before the end of this season.
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With the 10-point deduction marking the single biggest points deduction in Premier League history, all eyes are now on what will happen with City and their Financial Fair Play [FFP] investigation. City, back in February, were charged with breaching dozens of financial rules, dating back to the 2009/10 campaign.
The Premier League statement said: "In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club (Club) to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4.
The statement listed said breaches with five separate points made on the rulings, adding: "Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel in accordance with Premier League Rules W.19, W.20 and W.26.
"The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission's final award will be published on the Premier League's website. This confirmation is made in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice."
Though City could face severe punishment for the charges, it has been reported that they are unlikely to be stripped of their Premier League title crowns. The Blues have won England's top tier seven times since the 2009/10 campaign, including in each of the last three seasons.
However, the prospect of them being snatched away from them appears to be unlikely, with the Independent's Miguel Delaney admitting that figures embedded within the case do not expect the punishment to look 'backwards'.
He said previously: "Figures involved don't seem to think any prospective punishments would be retrospective or 'looking backwards' (ie stripping titles) but this is all described as 'unprecedented'."
Though that would be a relief for City, the prospect of a 30-point deduction or automatic relegation to the Championship could be 'very real'. That is according to Martyn Ziegler, who is a journalist for The Times.
In a report published last week, he said 'the threat of a 30-point deduction or automatic relegation from the Premier League would look to be very real' for both City and Chelsea, who are under investigation by the Premier League and the Football Association for potential breaches of football rules, including FFP.
