Manchester City’s legal troubles may not stop with the 114 charges already found against them for Premier League financial breaches. According to The Independent, some English soccer executives now want the club examined for possible offences beyond 2018, raising the prospect of fresh action.

City maintain their innocence and have already launched an official appeal against the sweeping guilty verdict. That appeal means any sanctions are currently on hold, but the range of possible punishment remains severe, from heavy fines and transfer bans to a points deduction and even Premier League expulsion.

The latest report centres on a simple question: “What changed overnight?” It points to the club’s commercial income staying at the same level in the years after the investigation period ended, despite the scrutiny only covering conduct up to 2018. The Independent also says the club’s relationship with their Abu Dhabi-based “sponsors” did not change, which has fuelled suspicion that further breaches may exist beyond the original case.

If additional wrongdoing were uncovered, City could face more charges. There is also the possibility of title sanctions, with the club at risk of being stripped of trophies won during the years in question.

The scale of the issue is significant because City’s honours list spans both the period before 2018 and the years after it. They won three Premier League titles between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, then added five more, including four consecutive league triumphs from 2020-21 to 2023-24.

Not everyone wants another investigation, however. The Independent reports that some feel executives are “getting ahead of themselves”, especially as the original inquiry, which took three years, has still not been completed. Others argue that a fresh probe would only prolong a case many would rather see finally closed.

Alf-Inge Haaland has said his son Erling remains focused on football while the wider debate around Manchester City’s legal situation continues to dominate discussion away from the pitch.

Speaking to Viaplay, the former player pushed back against comparisons being drawn between City’s case and Juventus, saying the situations should not be treated in the same way. “Well, Juventus was match-fixing and a few other things,” Alf-Inge told Viaplay as he argued the two cases should not be compared. “I think we should await the appeal process. It could happen quickly, even though there are rival supporters, clubs and, not least, journalists who are out for blood against City right now.

“So we’ll just have to wait and see what the appeal outcome says. City believe they have strong evidence to stand up and prove their innocence, so I think we wait until that decision is reached.”

The Haaland family are, for now, waiting like everyone else for the appeal process to run its course. Alf-Inge said there has been little direct communication from the club beyond what is circulating publicly.

“Nothing more than what’s in the media,” he revealed. “And there is an awful lot written there, and very one-sided, I would say, right? ”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the club, Alf-Inge was clear that Erling is keeping his attention on the game itself. “Erling thinks about playing as much football as he can and concentrates on that,” Haaland Sr said. “I think it’s more those of us outside the pitch who think a bit more about it.”

Haaland is formally represented by Rafaela Pimenta, though his father continues to play a major role in discussions about his future. That future remains uncertain, with long-term admirers Barcelona and Real Madrid both linked, while domestic rivals Arsenal have also been mentioned as potential challengers should an opening emerge.

There have also been claims that Haaland’s contract includes a release clause for this kind of scenario, but Alf-Inge refused to address that. “I can’t comment on player contracts or Erling’s contract,” he stressed. “I can’t comment on that.”

Manchester City’s second straight Premier League defeat arrived on home turf, with Brighton & Hove Albion leaving with a 1-0 win and City left to question another flat display.

For long spells, the hosts looked short of ideas. Half-hearted penalty appeals and Iliman Ndiaye’s wayward header were among the few openings before the break, and the pattern barely changed after it. City pushed, but their attacks rarely developed into clear chances, with Brighton’s back line standing firm throughout.

Ndiaye struck the woodwork twice, while Nico O’Reilly headed just wide late on, yet the overall impression was of a side unable to find a decisive edge. City carried plenty of endeavour, but Brighton’s organisation made that effort count for very little.

The result leaves City facing the possibility of surrendering top spot if Arsenal beat Liverpool on Sunday, and the timing will concern them after back-to-back slips in the early title race. The opening seven gameweeks had suggested a side that could still overwhelm opponents even without the fluidity of Pep Guardiola’s best teams, but recent defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa have been followed by these two meetings with Brighton, and the warning signs are now harder to ignore.

There was little to admire in a side that had already looked unconvincing in midweek, and this performance followed a familiar pattern. Without the injured Antoine Semenyo and after Rayan Cherki was dropped to the bench, City lacked penetration in midfield and sharpness in the final third.

At the back, there were troubling moments as well. Matheus Nunes’s missed clearance gifted Brighton the lead, while another move carved through the hosts before Maxim De Cuyper sent an effort over from close range.

Come the final whistle, City had the possession and the shot count, but not the answers.

GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma—6.5: Quieter than his deputy Gerónimo Rulli was midweek. One terrible pass into midfield almost cost City, though.
RB: Matheus Nunes—6.0: Nunes’s blunder could be attributed to rustiness, but there are few excuses for such a basic mistake. One of several untidy moments for him.
CB: Abdukodir Khusanov—7.5: Brighton’s counter attacking sequences unnerved City on occasion, but Khusanov generally handled his individual duels effectively.
CB: Rúben Dias—6.7: Sloppy in possession-as were many of his teammates-and was rarely tested defensively.
LB: Joško Gvardiol—7.0: Offers an incredible attacking threat. Feasibly could have notched a goal or an assist on another day, consistently popping up in dangerous zones.
CM: Ayyoub Bouaddi—5.9: An unpolished performance from the youngster, who still has much to learn before being able to command the Premier League stage. Hooked before the hour.
CM: Elliot Anderson—7.5: Covered every last blade of grass courtesy of his endless engine. Whether snapping into tackles or sparking attacking sequences, Anderson was at the heart of things for City.
RW: Iliman Ndiaye—7.0: City’s brightest spark for much of the encounter, but profligacy proved his barrier to success. Spurned his side’s most promising moments.
AM: Enzo Fernández—6.3: Produced a tame performance when unleashed in the advanced midfield role, and was unsurprisingly sacrificed as Maresca sought an equalizer.
LW: Jérémy Doku—8.3: Caused chaos with his speed and directness, but, as is so often the case with Doku, the end product didn’t match the build-up. Just gave the ball away so much.
ST: Erling Haaland—6.2: Typically isolated for much of the encounter-underscored by his 12 first-half touches, nine fewer than Donnarumma-and therefore unable to add to his nine Premier League goals.
SUB: Rayan Cherki (55’ for Bouaddi)—6.5: Brought on to produce some magic. Failed to do so.
SUB: Nico O’Reilly (64’ for Fernández)—6.8: Missed an excellent opportunity in the dying embers.
SUB: Allan (79’ for Ndiaye)—6.0: An enthusiastic runner.
SUB: Phil Foden (79’ for Gvardiol)—6.0: On the fringes.