Man City should land '20-point deduction' and two-year transfer ban - expert

Manchester City should be hit with a 20-point deduction, a two-year transfer ban and a hefty fine after being found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

That is the opinion of experienced former Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.

It emerged last week that the independent commission that heard the case almost two years ago have finally come to a verdict, finding the Citizens guilty on all but one of the charges.

An official verdict is yet to be handed down, however, and Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has since reiterated the club's confidence that they are innocent.

An appeal will surely take place in the coming weeks if the official verdict is released as expected, with sanctions likely to be discussed thereafter.

Fans have called on Man City to be stripped of their titles and relegated from the Premier League, but it remains to be seen just how keen the Premier League are to make an example out of one of its most successful clubs.

Man City should pay 'vast sum of money' to lower leagues

When it eventually does emerge, the verdict in the Man City case is expected to prove defining for similar cases throughout the footballing world.

Should they get off lightly, the door may well essentially be open for clubs to act in a similar manner and consider the likely punishment worth it.

"Personally, I think they should have a 20 point deduction, a two-year transfer ban and a very, very big financial fine," King told Football Insider.

"The money should be paid through the league. All the leagues - the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. I mean a vast sum of money we're talking about.

"It would be a figure that would certainly compensate, not only the teams who they say are affected, but also clubs going right down to League Two, because when the fine is implemented, if there is going to be a fine, where does the money go?

"They've proved and proved time and time again that this is a family [Abu Dhabi Royal Family] which have got more money than any of us will ever dream of. We're talking silly figures here."

"If they're going to implement something next season, because it will have to be next season, 20-point minus to start, then it still gives them a chance to remain in the Premier League," King added.

Man City to make history

Queens Park Rangers received the largest fine in football history in 2018 when they were reached a settlement to pay a £42million fine to the English Football League.

The London club had broken spending limits in 2014 as they fought for and eventually achieved promotion to the Premier League.

The biggest points deduction went to Luton Town in the 2008-09 season, when they were docked a total 30 points for illegal payments to agents and an improper exit from administration.

Man City's alleged breaches of the rules are unprecedented, and it appears that their punishments in both cases may well make history.