Why Man City expulsion could save a Championship club from relegation

The Premier League side could face a damning upcoming punishment

Manchester City are now firmly in hot water with English footballing authorities, having been declared guilty of 114 of their 115 charges investigated by an independent commission.

The Citizens have been the country's most dominant force in terms of trophies won for some time, winning eight Premier League titles since their infamous 3-2 victory on the final day of the 2011/12 campaign over Queens Park Rangers, which initially ended a 44-year wait to become English champions.

Much of their recent success, which includes the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League, came under the management of Pep Guardiola, but in the same season, it was first alleged that the club had broken several Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules between the years of 2009 and 2018.

After a lengthy investigation into the matter, the aforementioned headlines have now come to the fore throughout the current extended international break, whilst the Premier League have also hit out at City for agreeing "sham contracts" and "sham agreements" which have influenced revenue and operating costs at the Etihad Stadium.

The current top-flight leaders now have until Friday, October 2nd, to submit their appeal against the findings, but unsurprisingly, several punishments have already been speculated, such as fines, points deductions or an expulsion from the Premier League altogether.

However, one of those could come to benefit a Championship club.

How one Championship club could be influenced by potential Man City punishment

Action Images

Naturally, supporters of rival Premier League clubs, as well as those further down the pyramid, are baying for blood when it comes to the punishment which may face Enzo Maresca's side.

One of those is a seismic points' deduction, which may even exceed the 30 point tally which Luton Town were docked in the 2008/09 League Two season, as a result, likely leaving Man City in the relegation zone either this season or in the coming years, depending on when the process is resolved.

Another is, as previously mentioned, an expulsion from the Premier League, although the process of removing the league's modern-day superpower would be far from straightforward.

The removal of City from the division would take at least 15 of their league rivals to vote in favour, and even then, there is no guarantee that the EFL would accept the club into the Championship, League One or League Two.

However, if the second tier still operated in a three-club promotion manner, whilst only two clubs would be relegated from the Premier League in this eventuality, there is the chance that only two clubs would be relegated into League One to ensure it remains a 24-team league, as per EFL guidelines.

The Championship's current relegation picture as Man City debate rumbles on

Of course, it is far too early in the season for the relegation picture to be set in stone, but if the season finished right now, Derby County would have their status saved in this hypothetical scenario.

Preston North End and Burnley would be the two sides relegated if the division, as unlikely as it would ever be, remained the same between now and matchday 46, which, ironically, would make the Clarets the third team in as many seasons suffering back-to-back relegations from the Premier League to League One.

Such a scenario would only add to an unprecedented set of circumstances too, as the current season is the first in which the play-offs have been expanded from four to six teams.

Many fans would like to see Man City punished further than EFL Championship relegation

Although not on such a greater scale, Juventus were relegated to Serie B in 2006 after allegations of doping against members of their squad, but were still able to retain star names such as Gianluigi Buffon and Pavel Nedved, subsequently returning to Serie A at the first time of asking.

Although the inclusion of Man City in the Championship would give the division more attention, many supporters of the league's current 24 clubs have already stated their desire to see an even greater punishment be handed out.

It is currently hypothetical, but the Citizens could still be able to retain the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki in the Championship for one season and bounce straight back, which, in the eyes of many, wouldn't be a punishment suitable enough in relation the crime.