Rival clubs press for Manchester City sanctions before season ends

Senior football figures want Manchester City's financial-rules case resolved before the season ends, BBC Sport reported on Wednesday, as the club prepares to appeal against the findings. The calls for a swift conclusion do not establish when a punishment will be imposed, with the decision resting with an independent commission.

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BBC Sport reported that the Premier League announced guilty findings on Tuesday concerning financial regulations covering the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. City deny wrongdoing and have indicated that they intend to appeal by the end of the week. Officials speaking anonymously to the broadcaster said completing the process this season should be possible.

Separately, the Guardian reported that executives at several rival clubs regard relegation for a single season as insufficient. Their position reflects the scale of the commission's findings, including that City's income was inflated by £900m between 2009 and 2018. Those executives want a penalty that would keep City outside the Premier League for longer.

The rival clubs do not participate in deciding the sanction. According to the Guardian, the Premier League board determines the league's position independently and can request a punishment, while City can present their own arguments. The commission has powers including points deductions, transfer restrictions and expulsion, but no particular outcome has yet been established by the reporting.

The Guardian said new rules provide for the appeal hearing to finish within 12 weeks of Friday's submission deadline, followed by up to 30 days for a judgment. That points towards a decision by late January, although City could challenge the application of the new timetable to historic charges. A sanctions hearing could run alongside the appeal, but that arrangement remains unconfirmed.

Another development concerns City's sponsor Etihad Airways. BBC Sport reported that the airline is considering legal action and rejects suggestions of improper commercial arrangements. Etihad said it had not been given an opportunity to participate in the process and would seek legal advice to protect its interests. The Premier League declined to comment to the broadcaster.