Manchester City Should Be Relegated
Nearly two weeks have passed since Manchester City’s guilty verdict on 114 out of 115 charges. Since then, Man City was charged with the additional 115th charge, being found guilty on all of them by the Premier League.
Man City has lodged an appeal and the verdict is currently up in the air. Debates over specific punishments circled heavily during the international break. Everything from a point deduction to relegation have been discussed.
Rival fans have clamored mostly at the prospect of Man City’s titles being stripped during the allotted time period.
However, taking away their titles simply is not enough. If the Premier League wants to put an end to this now, it is best for them to relegate Man City all together.
Man City completely disrupted English and European soccer during the scandal. Clubs were paid undisclosed fees for stars, former managers received undisclosed bonuses and Man City actively attempted to cover its tracks.
Man City quickly established itself as one of Europe’s best teams after the 2008 takeover with the Abu Dhabi group. As a team that had previously bounced back-and-forth between divisions, City quickly rose up the Premier League and won the league title in the 2011-2012 season.
City further went on to win seven more Premier League titles – including four peating from 2020-2021 through 2023-2024 – a Champions League, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and four Community Shields. Since the Abu Dhabi takeover, City won over 20 different trophies across all competitions, more than doubling the amount of trophies won before the takeover.
City’s entire legacy from 2008 onward was built on cheating. More than 68% of City’s trophies come from this time period.
It is simply not enough for City to be stripped of its titles. City completely trampled over the rules and thrived because of it. 115 charges is completely unheard of, and if the Premier League chooses to punish City lightly it will set a new precedent where cheating is encouraged.
A point deduction or transfer ban does little to discourage City or other teams from doing the same. Plenty of teams would trade a point deduction and transfer ban for City’s success over the past 20 years.
The Premier League cannot play favorites. Despite the quality Man City brings, the only right punishment is relegation from the Premier League, if not something further. Anything less would ruin the foundation the Premier League was built on.
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