Premier League rivals are said to be split over what punishment should follow the findings against Manchester City, with opinions ranging from a severe sporting sanction to a ruling that would still allow the club to remain in the division.

City could lose the three titles won during the period under scrutiny, from 2009 to 2018, although any punishment is expected to shape the present or future rather than rewrite the past. The matter now rests with an independent panel, while City prepare an appeal.

According to The Guardian, after discussions with executives from rival clubs, there is a strong push for a penalty heavy enough to keep City out of the top flight for the foreseeable future. A straight relegation is not available in the normal sense, as the English Football League is a separate body and would not be bound to accept anything beyond the three clubs traditionally sent down. Even so, a significant points deduction could leave City anchored near the bottom of the table.

Those quoted in the report do not want a sanction that feels temporary. Their concern is that a one-season absence would simply allow City to return and continue as before. One executive said: “Relegation to the Championship for one season would be insufficient,” one executive is quoted as saying. “The commission has to arrive at a punishment that is proportionate for years of sustained and deliberate cheating, as well as providing a strong deterrent to it happening again.”

The panel does have the power to remove City from the top flight altogether. Yet Sky Sports News reported that two senior executives from unnamed Premier League clubs would be “staggered” and “amazed” if enough clubs truly backed expulsion.

Commercial concerns are central to that reluctance. City remain one of the league’s biggest attractions, and their removal would create problems for scheduling and television rights. Fewer fixtures would mean reduced broadcast value, with possible refunds affecting money distributed across the division. “If Man City were expelled, that would have massive commercial consequences for everyone in the league, and ultimately it would cost the other clubs an awful lot of money,” one executive said.

The Independent Football Regulator, introduced in September 2025, is also watching closely. Its chair, David Kogan, said: “The independent commission’s decision raises serious issues,” Kogan said. “The IFR has powers to assess the suitability of owners, directors and executives and we will use these powers where appropriate, in the interests of protecting the sustainability, honesty and integrity of English football where there is clear evidence of wrongdoing by individuals.

“This includes taking account of findings made by the Leagues. However, as the proceedings remain ongoing between Manchester City and the Premier League we will await further developments.

“We hope it can be resolved quickly for the sake of fans. For now, we have no further comment.”

Jürgen Klopp has stepped back from his earlier stance on Manchester City’s Premier League charges, saying he is “not really interested” in the idea of the club being stripped of titles.

The former Liverpool manager had previously joked in January 2025 that he would host a private parade in Mallorca, Spain, if City’s titles were taken away. His latest comments, however, show a more measured position.

“I haven’t given it much thought,” the current boss of the Germany national team said. “I also know that I said that if there’s ever a parade, I’d come. I can only wait and see.

“I have big respect for Pep Guardiola and City’s style of football. They played fantastic football and were a top-class opponent for us. If any sanctions are handed out, I have nothing to do with it. I’ll wait and see.

“I don’t really have any strong feelings about it. It’s not like I need to have won the English title a few more times. I’m far from preparing for a title or anything like that. I’m absolutely fine with what we achieved in Liverpool. We fought hard on the pitch.

“I can’t say more about that because I don’t know the details. To be honest, I’m also not really interested in it.”

The Premier League’s rules do include a broad range of possible sanctions for clubs found guilty of breaches. Financial punishments and point deductions are standard tools in the modern game, while the regulations also conclude with the option of “such other penalty as it shall think fit.”

That wording leaves the league with the power to remove titles if it chooses, although whether that would happen is another matter entirely. When the guilty verdict against City first became public, reporting suggested any punishment would likely not be retrospective. BBC Sport also said there was “little appetite” from the league or rival clubs for titles to be stripped.

If the issue ever moved further, the debate would centre on which honours could be affected. City’s punished period runs from 2009 to 2018, when they won three Premier League titles: 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18.

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has moved away from his earlier comments on Manchester City’s Premier League charges, saying he is “not really interested” in seeing the club stripped of titles.

That is a clear shift from January 2025, when Klopp joked that he would organise a private parade in Mallorca, Spain, if City were ever made to surrender their trophies. The subject now, he says, does not stir the same reaction.

“I haven’t given it much thought,” the current boss of the Germany national team said. “I also know that I said that if there’s ever a parade, I’d come. I can only wait and see.

“I have big respect for Pep Guardiola and City’s style of football. They played fantastic football and were a top-class opponent for us. If any sanctions are handed out, I have nothing to do with it. I’ll wait and see.

“I don’t really have any strong feelings about it. It’s not like I need to have won the English title a few more times. I’m far from preparing for a title or anything like that. I’m absolutely fine with what we achieved in Liverpool. We fought hard on the pitch.

“I can’t say more about that because I don’t know the details. To be honest, I’m also not really interested in it.”

The Premier League does have a wide range of penalties available if rules are found to have been broken. Financial punishment and points deductions are among the more familiar outcomes in the modern game, while the regulations also leave room for “such other penalty as it shall think fit.”

That wording means title stripping remains within the league’s powers, even if it is far from certain to be used. When the case against City first became public, reports suggested any punishment would probably not be retrospective. BBC Sport noted there was “little appetite” from the league or rival clubs to remove City’s titles, though the option is not ruled out.

If that route were ever taken, the question would turn to which trophies could be affected. City’s alleged breaches cover the period between 2009 and 2018, when they won three Premier League titles: in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18.