A soccer finance expert has stated that Manchester City cannot be relegated from the Premier League even if it is found guilty of 115 alleged breaches of financial rules. City and the Premier League presented their cases to an independent tribunal at the end of 2024 after months of waiting.

A verdict is expected some time this year, with both parties having the option to appeal. The case has been looming over the club for the past two years. City has refuted the financial allegations against it, but if found guilty, it could face severe penalties.

However, the University of Liverpool's Kieran Maguire has asserted that the Premier League will find it difficult to relegate the English champion if it is found guilty, but could impose a points deduction that would make relegation to the Championship inevitable in a significant claim as Liverpool and other clubs await the outcome of the case.

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In a conversation with the Overlap Fan Debate brought to you by Sky Bet, Maguire explained that the Premier League is unlikely to be able to relegate City because the English Football League (EFL) has no obligation to accept them. "In the case of City, there's actually three charges," he explained.

"Has money come in from the owners which they pretend to be from sponsors? If that is the case, then that is fraud. That is about as serious as it gets. And, if found guilty of those charges, then the book will be thrown at Manchester City, and it's going to be a massive points deduction.

"You can't relegate [expel] them because the Premier League and the EFL are independent bodies, so the EFL doesn't have to accept them. Given the Everton and the Nottingham Forest points deductions, they were both described by the commission of being 'minor breaches'."

"Well, what Manchester City are being accused of is major breaches over a nine to 10 year period. So, you would be looking at somewhere between 60 and 100 points if you go through on a charge by charge basis. So, it would relegate them.

"I think there are very narrow grounds for appeal. It's only if the conduct of the committee itself was unprofessional in some way that one of the parties can potentially make an appeal. If Manchester City are found guilty then the whole board of directors has to resign because they will have been found guilty of misrepresentation — effectively lying to a commission."

As Liverpool sits 12 points clear of City with a game in hand, fans of Arne Slot's side are eager to see if this could mark the end of Manchester City's dominant grip on the title for the past four seasons. Regardless of the outcome in this trial, that appears to be the case.

Liverpool.com says: At this point, everyone just wants the verdict. It has dragged on for so long that most people forget most of the time that it is even happening behind the scenes. It is in everyone's best interests for it to be resolved ASAP.