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Manchester City FFP 2024Getty/GOAL

'The biggest crime you can get' - Man City's 115-charge FFP case compared to Juventus cheating scandal as Pep Guardiola's side are told they're 'not too big' to be punished with relegation

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Over 28 monthsSave 73%
Protect 14 devices with the top ExpressVPN plan
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Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's top-tier Express Pro plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

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Over 28 monthsSave 67%
Protect 10 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Basic

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's entry-level Basic plan gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 10 different devices simultaneously, and offers Lite Protection that blocks ads and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Basic plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 10MB/month private email relay plus 10 shared aliases.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 80%.


Over 28 monthsSave 80%
Advanced protection across 11 devices with high-speed VPN
ExpressVPN

Advanced

Those that sign up for ExpressVPN's most popular plan, the Advance plan, gain access to a high-speed VPN, which offers high-capacity 40Gbps servers in many high-demand locations, with VPN servers in 113 countries worldwide.

The VPN can be applied across 12 different devices simultaneously, and offers Advanced Protection that blocks ads, trackers and malicious and adult websites. A dedicated IP is available to be purchased as an add-on.

Additionally, ExpressVPN's Advanced plan includes the ExpressMailGuard, which offers a 100MB/month private email relay plus 50 shared aliases and a custom domain, and ExpressKeys, which gives users a password management facility for an unlimited number of passwords plus a 2FA authenticator.

There is a 30-day money-back guarantee for new users. The plan is available on a one-month rolling contract, although those that sign up for a 12-month plan (offering one year plus an extra three months) can save more than 60%, while those that sign up for a two-year plan (offering two years plus an extra four months) can save 73%. Both longer-term plans include a 3GB holiday.com eSIM that is valid for three days in 150+ destinations.


Over 28 monthsSave 73%

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Independent hearing has concluded
  • City waiting on verdict & punishment
  • Threat of points deduction & demotion
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The reigning champions of England have at least 115 charges relating to supposed monetary mismanagement hanging over their head. An independent hearing into misdemeanours that allegedly took place over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018 has reached a conclusion, but no verdict has been delivered as yet – meaning that City are still waiting to discover their punishment.

  • Luciano Moggi Juventus CalciopoliGetty

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Serie A giants Juve were demoted as part of the Calciopoli case in 2006, having faced accusations of manipulating match official appointments, and there has been talk of City being stripped of their top-flight status if multiple rule breaches are considered to have taken place.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    Ally McCoist knows all about being dropped down divisions having been in charge of Glasgow giants Rangers when they were placed in the Scottish Third Division on the back of entering administration in 2012.

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  • Ally McCoist RangersGetty

    WHAT ALLY MCCOIST SAID

    McCoist, speaking in association with talkSPORT BET, told GOAL when asked if City could be hit with similar sanctions: “If they are guilty of all the crimes and the Premier League find a punishment that is fitting… I say crimes, offences. Although some football fans would consider them crimes!

    “I’m not going to sit and pre-judge them. However, if they are found guilty of breaking rules and committing these offences, then the punishment should fit the offence. Whether that is getting demoted down to a lower league, I’m not sure. I still believe that it was a very, very harsh thing to do to my football club and I’m not sure anybody benefited from it. Well, certainly clubs down the lower leagues did, when we were turning up to Peterhead and Elgin and the places were sold out.

    “As much as it was an experience I will never forget and a really enjoyable one, I’m not sure the punishment fitted the crime. I’m not sure what punishment should be dealt to Manchester City if, and it’s a big if, they are found guilty.”

  • TELL ME MORE

    McCoist went on to say when asked if City are too important to the Premier League brand for them to be stung with the harshest of penalties: “No, I don’t think so. I don’t think anybody is. However, in saying that, you can’t make special cases. If Man United did the same offence, everyone has to be treated the same.

    “I remember a few years back in Serie A, Juventus got found guilty of cheating. To me that’s the biggest crime you can get in sport. That was a case where you thought maybe the punishment wasn’t as strict as it should have been. They dropped down a division for a year, into Serie B.

    “When you look at what happens with other clubs – I know it’s a different association and all that, you have to find something in between. There is no bigger crime than cheating. Some people might tell me that if Manchester City are found guilty of these offences, that is a form of cheating, but that’s an argument in itself. They are certainly not too big to get the punishment that would come their way if they were found guilty.”

  • Etihad Stadium Getty Images

    WHAT NEXT?

    Automatic relegation out of the Premier League is considered to be unlikely in City’s case, as they have been spending big again in the transfer market, but a hefty points deduction and potential recruitment ban continue to be discussed at length ahead of any definitive ruling.