'Think about the players!' - Premier League told Man City relegation due to 115 charges FFP saga would be harsh on 'blameless' stars as authorities warned sending Pep Guardiola's side down would create 'big debacle'

That is one of the punishments to have been speculated on as the 10-time champions of English football wait to discover their fate in a long-running Financial Fair Play saga. There has also been talk of points deductions, fines and transfer embargoes.

City maintain that they have done nothing wrong, with it very much a case of business as usual at the Etihad Stadium, but a ruling will be delivered at some stage as an independent hearing into supposed monetary mismanagement has been concluded.

With potential sanctions ranging from a slap on the wrist to top-flight demotion, a global audience is eager to discover what the relevant authorities have in store for City. A former Blues star is not convinced that explosive action will be taken.

Terry Phelan, speaking in association with NetBet IE sports betting, told GOAL when asked if we could see Erling Haaland and Rodri turning out in the Championship at some stage: “What would you want? Would you want them kicked out of the league? Do you want them playing Championship football? Would it be detrimental to the club?

“They have certain allegations hanging over their head, but they just have to go out there and play. They have got to be better than they were last year - obviously Rodri is coming back. City didn’t have a great tournament recently [FIFA Club World Cup] but new staff have come in, new players have come in, they have spent money, so that tells you something. They are not worried.

“People are saying ‘strip all of the titles off them, do what they did to Juventus, we want to see them down there’. Think about football players. Don’t worry about the club, think about the players. The players still have to go out and play, and they haven’t done anything wrong.

“It’s not likely to happen. I can’t see it happening. Maybe they get a fine, a slap on the hand. Do you want Manchester City in the EPL or do you want them in the Championship, where other clubs will earn more money because the revenue will be better? What do you really want? They would have to sell players.

“I think it will be a bit of a debacle if that happens to Manchester City. Not just being an ex-Manchester City player and being a supporter, I think it will be a big debacle. You want your big clubs playing on the big stage, otherwise it’s a waste of time.”

Getty Images

City have continued to spend heavily in the summer transfer window - bringing in the likes of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri - with the countdown very much on to a 2025-26 season opener away at Wolves on August 16.