Manchester City and Chelsea sent warning they will face ‘expulsion’ from the Premier League if guilty of FFP breaches
Financial Fair Play (FFP) has become an increasingly contentious issue in English football, particularly in the 2023-2024 season where two clubs have already faced point deductions due to FFP violations. Nottingham Forest received six points fewer than Everton for similar infractions, prompting confusion among fans about the consistency of punishment application.
There’s speculation about how the Premier League will handle high-profile clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea, considering the apparent disparity in penalties. Experts in sports law and accounting, including Robert Glancy KC, Mark Hovell, and Steve Holt, have examined the potential penalties clubs could face in light of the Forest case, with possible consequences ranging from warnings to expulsion from the Premier League.
The severity of the penalty depends on whether the breach is classified as “minor” or “major.” Even the most severe punishment, expulsion, is deemed appropriate for major infractions. Given the serious allegations against them, it’s likely that City and Chelsea’s charges, as well as any future charges, would fall under the “major” category.
City of Manchester has vehemently denied all 115 accusations against them, with a lengthy Commission case expected to commence later in the year, culminating in a ruling in the 2024-2025 season. Meanwhile, Chelsea faces scrutiny over illegal payments made during the Roman Abramovich era, though the Premier League has yet to officially penalize them despite previous fines imposed by UEFA.
These developments underscore the growing scrutiny and debate surrounding FFP enforcement in English football, with fans, experts, and clubs closely monitoring how regulatory bodies handle cases involving financial irregularities. As the season progresses, the outcomes of ongoing investigations and potential repercussions for implicated clubs will undoubtedly continue to shape the discourse surrounding financial regulations in the sport.
