Manchester City could be expelled from various competitions, including the Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and the Club World Cup, if found guilty of violating financial regulations. The hearing regarding 115 alleged breaches, spanning nine years from 2009, commenced on Monday.
Accusations include inaccuracies in financial reporting and irregularities in player and manager payments. An investigation was triggered by Football Leaks documents published by Der Spiegel in 2018, which suggested that City funneled money from owners via sponsors in the UAE.
Relegation had been viewed as the toughest potential penalty, but reports indicate that expulsion from all tournaments is also a possibility. The FA Cup and EFL Cup rules allow removal of clubs if they are expelled from their league. City denies any wrongdoing and is defending its case independently.
City has won the Premier League three times between 2009 and 2018 and is currently on a four-season title streak, having claimed the Champions League in 2022-23.
