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Man City handed Premier League relegation verdict by lawyer as Arsenal watch on

Nick De Marco
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


The high-profile sports lawyer who helped Leicester City in their recent battle with the Premier League believes Manchester City should not be relegated by off-field adjudicators.

Nick De Marco KC, who helped Newcastle United with their takeover in 2021, helped the Foxes avoid sanctions from the Premier League earlier this season and says points deductions ought to be a last resort.

An independent panel opted in favour of De Marco's argument, claiming that the Premier League had no right to charge the Foxes with financial breaches given the club was not one of its members at the time, following relegation to the Championship.

However, with Man City now facing 130 allegations, the scope of punishment is thought to be unlimited as their Premier League rivals, including Arsenal, watch on.

Proceedings for City's hearing against the Premier League - which began on Monday - have the power to directly impose fines and points deductions while also being able to recommend relegation as per a members vote.

Man City - whose legal team is being led by Lord Pannick KC - are confident proceedings will not get to this stage, denying all of the charges in full and vowing to clear their name “once and for all”.

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Although De Marco says he is a beneficiary of current legislation, he does not believe it is “right” that a club should be expelled from a league due to anything other than sporting merit.

“In my view things as important as promotion and relegation should be determined on the pitch,” the 57-year-old told The Times.

“It spoils the game for it to be determined by people like me; lawyers and accountants and ex-lawyers who are arbitrators, hearing legal arguments behind closed doors. I’m going to make my money out of it because that’s my business but I don’t necessarily think it’s right.”

The Premier League handed out points deductions to Everton (twice) and Nottingham Forest in 2023/24, with the Toffees managing to reduce an initial 10-point penalty to six points upon appeal. Having swatted away talk potential of relegation, De Marco suggests points deductions should be the last-resort option.

He continued: “As a football fan I really do think points deductions should be the very last thing people look at for breaches. Yet it’s becoming a routine starting point, and I do think that spoils a lot of the fun and entertainment of the game.

“I can still see the argument for points deductions, because they can be the best way to redress a sporting advantage given the obvious flaws with financial penalties.

“If you are a very wealthy owner, intent on just spending anything in breach of the rules, you’re not going to worry too much about a financial penalty. But I still think point deductions should be a last resort.”