Manchester United supporters have called for the severest possible punishment for Manchester City if the Premier League’s 114 financial-rule charges are upheld, with relegation, points deductions and substantial fines among the sanctions suggested by fans.
A rivalry sharpened by the charges
The two Manchester clubs have never needed much encouragement to disagree, but the allegations facing City have pushed the local divide into even more hostile territory. United fans argued that any punishment must reflect what they believe has been a lengthy period of wrongdoing in the Premier League.
One supporter said the minimum acceptable outcome would be a return to the second tier, describing the situation as absurd and calling for City to be expelled. Others went further, proposing a drop of at least four divisions, potentially to the bottom of the professional pyramid.
Calls for sporting and financial penalties
Supporters set out a range of punishments they would like to see imposed should City be found responsible for the alleged breaches:
- Relegation from the Premier League, with some demanding demotion to the second division.
- A fall of four divisions or more, taking the club to the lowest level suggested by those fans.
- A deduction of around 90 points.
- A major financial penalty, potentially matching money supporters believe was improperly gained.
Another United fan said City had, in his view, cheated for 15 years in the Premier League and insisted that the eventual sanction should match the scale of the accusations.
No verdict yet in the Premier League case
City face 114 charges concerning alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The strength of feeling across Manchester is clear, but the case remains the central issue: any disciplinary outcome will depend on the findings reached through the league’s process.
