Manchester City are reportedly in danger of being expelled from multiple competitions, including the Premier League, if they are found guilty of breaching financial rules.
In February 2023, the Citizens were charged by the Premier League with breaking 115 financial rules between 2009 and 2018 following a four-year investigation.
Man City, who have emphatically denied the charges against them, are alleged to have failed to provide accurate financial information relating to sponsorship income, revenue and operating costs and have also been accused of offering a secret contract to one of their managers during this period who was receiving more money than officially stated.
The Citizens have also been accused by the Premier League of failing to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules during a five-year period and are said to have not fully co-operated with the Premier League's investigation.
Man City's hearing into their 115 charges began on September 16 and has been dubbed by some as 'the sport's trial of the century' which is expected to run for around 10 weeks.
A final verdict is not expected to arrive until some stage in early 2025, but speculation continues to swirl over what punishments Man City could be facing if they are found guilty.
Man City at risk of expulsion from multiple competitions?
It has previously been suggested that Man City could face punishments such as heavy fines or points deductions, although it is understood that Premier League rivals would not accept a one-off points deduction if Pep Guardiola's side are found guilty.
According to The Telegraph, Man City could be at risk of being expelled from both the FA Cup and EFL Cup as well as the Premier League, while there is also no certainty they would be allowed to continue playing in the Champions League or FIFA Club World Cup.
The report adds that expulsion from the Premier League would 'satisfy' those clubs calling for a harsher sanction against the Citizens, but it would risk throwing English football into chaos if the four-time defending champions were able to continue playing in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League.
The reports alludes to rules from the FA Cup and EFL Cup which raise the prospect of Man City's potential expulsion being extended beyond the Premier League.
Clause 31 of the FA Cup rules reads: "Where a club has been admitted to participate in the competition but is then removed from the league in which it competes (or its league fixtures are suspended), the Professional Game Board (made up of Premier League and EFL representatives) may remove the club from the competition."
Could Man City be expelled from Champions League, Club World Cup?
With regard to European competition, all clubs require a UEFA club licence to participate and UEFA, the FA and the Premier League are all involved in the administration of such licences for English clubs.
As things stand, it remains unknown as to whether expulsion from a domestic league would result in the withdrawal of an UEFA club licence, while similar details for FIFA competitions, such as the Club World Cup, are not publicly available.
Man City manager Guardiola recently reiterated that "everybody is innocent until guilt is proven" and is "looking forward" to the hearing that will 'hopefully end soon'.
In June, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak demanded for the club to be "judged by the facts and not by claims and counterclaims".
Sports Mole recently sat down with Man City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany and he revealed that he was "relaxed" about the club's situation, although he also admitted that it is beneficial for Premier League rivals that the Citizens "look bad" amidst the charges against them.
