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According to The Sun, Chelsea and Manchester City have been warned that they could be kicked out of the Premier League if found to have violated FFP rules. Manchester City had strongly opposed the 115 charges brought forward by the Premier League in February 2023. An independent panel is expected to begin hearing the case later in the fall. Chelsea, currently ranked 11th in the league, has not yet been charged.
However, last summer, the Blues were found to have engaged in financial irregularities during the Abramovich era, making payments to agents from accounts outside the club's books. According to Chelsea's latest financial accounts, the Berkeley Group set aside £150 million when acquiring the club to cover potential legal fees.
Both Premier League giants have been warned that they could face ultimate sanctions. The committee deducted 4 points from Nottingham Forest this week. In a 52-page written rationale, Robert Grancy, sports law expert Mark Howell, and accounting specialist Steve Holt explained the reasons for their penalties, linking Manchester City's £34.5 million breach to the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
They pointed out that, in any case, they could face unlimited sanctions, including "from warnings to expulsion from the Premier League." The committee added, "If the breach of the PSR is minor, other committees will decide whether it is necessary, appropriate, or proportionate to deduct points. However, if these breaches are appropriately characterized as 'serious,' they may also face very severe sanctions, such as expulsion from the league."
The scale of charges against Manchester City and Chelsea suggests that if confirmed, both cases fall into the "serious" category. While the Nottingham Forest case's opinion does not bind future committees, it serves as an ominous warning to both giants. |
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