I appreciate Sparky’s thoughtful breakdown and analysis of the potential outcomes if Manchester City is found guilty of the violations they are alleged to have committed. However, one crucial element seems to be missing in all of these scenarios: the need for meaningful and consistent disciplinary action. This is especially important considering that other clubs have faced punishment for offenses that may be less severe in comparison.
Firstly, while I agree that stripping City of their titles and reallocating them might not feel entirely right, as it could seem unjust to other clubs, it is essential that City does not retain these titles if wrongdoing is proven. Instead of reassigning the titles, a more fitting solution might be to void them altogether, with the titles marked by an asterisk to indicate that they were awarded under questionable circumstances. This would acknowledge the severity of the situation while avoiding creating a situation where clubs unjustly benefit from City’s misdeeds.
Secondly, financial penalties imposed on the club may not be particularly effective unless those funds are redirected in a way that benefits the other affected clubs. However, this approach would be incredibly complex and difficult to achieve, almost like attempting to untangle a bureaucratic mess. While financial fines could be an option, their impact would likely be limited unless other teams benefit directly from them, which could be logistically challenging.
Thirdly, relegating City to the Championship doesn’t seem like an appropriate solution, as it would punish clubs already working hard to compete at that level. It would also create an imbalance, as clubs that are lower in the league would face an even more difficult challenge to compete. Instead of relegating City, a more fitting punishment could be to drop them to the very bottom of the league structure, akin to the punishments seen in the cases of Juventus and Rangers, where those clubs were forced to start at the very bottom after repeated breaches of rules.
Given the history of consistent rule violations, this kind of accountability would seem fair. After all, if City has been engaging in such practices over the years, why should they be treated any differently than other clubs that have faced significant consequences for their transgressions? It’s essential that any punishment fits the severity of the offense and maintains consistency across the league.
