Latest: Man City punishment options explained after major financial verdict

Manchester City could theoretically face expulsion from the Premier League following the independent commission’s guilty verdict, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, although the eventual punishment remains completely undecided.

City have been found guilty of serious financial-rule breaches covering a nine-season period, but the disciplinary process is far from finished.

The club continues to deny wrongdoing and intends to challenge the findings, meaning speculation about relegation, points deductions or ownership changes should not be confused with confirmed sanctions.

Entire punishment spectrum remains open to commission

Ornstein discussed the possible consequences during an appearance on The Overlap, stressing that nobody outside the process currently knows what sanction City will receive.

Ornstein said: “The whole spectrum is open to the independent commission and that could be the most devastating consequences for Manchester City, or it could technically be a telling off and a slap on the wrist.”

Given the seriousness of the findings, he added that he would expect an “extremely heavy punishment”, while making clear he was speculating when suggesting City might ultimately find themselves outside the Premier League.

That possibility does exist within the available sanctions. However, expulsion has not been ordered, and a separate hearing must determine the punishment.

Expulsion and Man City ownership are separate issues

The distinction between City’s league status and Sheikh Mansour’s ownership is particularly important.

As per an Associated Press report, possible Premier League sanctions range from fines and points deductions to expulsion.

Any question over whether City’s ownership remains suitable would involve the Independent Football Regulator, rather than simply being an automatic consequence of the commission’s verdict.

That means City being expelled and Sheikh Mansour being forced to sell are not the same process.

Man City have also confirmed their intention to appeal and have until 2 October to exercise that right. The punishment will be considered separately and could include a combination of sanctions.

For now, Ornstein’s comments show the extraordinary range of possibilities rather than predicting the outcome.

Until the appeals and sanction process develops further, the most dramatic consequences remain possibilities rather than certainties.