Man City appeal 115 breaches verdict as Jesse Marsch calls for relegation

Manchester City have lodged an appeal after an independent commission found the club guilty of 115 financial breaches, with potential sporting penalties still to be decided.

Possible sanctions could include a points deduction or relegation, and Canada head coach Jesse Marsch believes demotion should be the outcome if the verdict survives the legal process.

Marsch calls for major City punishment

Marsch, who previously managed Leeds United, said City should face the strongest available sporting consequences.

“Manchester City should be punished severely,” Marsch said. “They should have to go down. Everybody knew about it.”

The commission’s ruling found City guilty of inflating income through sham contracts. The club’s appeal means the case will continue over the coming months before any final punishment is imposed.

Leeds transfer window raised by former manager

1. Marsch pointed to the summer of 2022, the only full transfer window of his Leeds spell.
2. Leeds sold Kalvin Phillips to City for £45 million and also moved on Raphinha, enabling the Yorkshire club to report a profit on their business.
3. He said Leeds’ financial position was clear because the club’s owners needed to protect funds and did not have unlimited resources.
4. Marsch said he was struck by City also reporting a profit, particularly after the champions completed Erling Haaland’s £52 million signing.

He said Leeds had money left from their sales after making purchases, but questioned how City’s figures could add up alongside the Haaland deal.

Marsch said he had felt there were inconsistencies at the time, but believed rival clubs had little option beyond accepting the situation as part of modern football.

What happens next

City’s appeal will now be heard through the independent legal process. Until that process is complete, no final sporting sanction has been confirmed.

If the appeal is rejected, the commission could impose a range of punishments, from a points penalty to the relegation Marsch has demanded.