Manchester City are facing a nightmare punishment if they are unsuccessful in their appeal against the guilty verdict.

The club were found guilty of 114 financial breaches in a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018 and have been embroiled in a legal battle with the Premier League since 2023.

Now, the appeal process is underway after the Premier League's scathing announcement in September. Insiders have now told the Daily Mail what punishment the Citizens can expect if the guilty verdict sticks.

Man City Could Be Handed Horror Punishment

According to the report, the Premier League are pushing to announce the sanctions before the outcome of City's appeal. The deadline for the appeal to conclude is December 25.

The commission is then expected to deliver a final outcome in mid-January. Speculated punishments to date have included point deductions, transfer bans and even expulsion from the top flight.

It is believed the latter is unlikely, but a significant point deduction is expected to 'guarantee relegation' to the EFL Championship. Expelling the Sky Blues and placing them in League Two would cause the Premier League and EFL 'self-defeating' chaos.

Oliver Holt claims inside sources have told him that the most likely punishment will include a 'swingeing points deduction' and a large fine. It is expected that a further deduction would keep the Citizens in the second-tier of English football for at least one more season.

The EFL aren't obliged to accept that sanction for one of the clubs in their leagues, but are likely to. Then, the club would be allowed to rebuild sustainably.

Man City's 'Leaked' European Punishment

This news comes just days after Colombian journalist Cesar Augusto Londono claimed UEFA were weighing up a potential European ban for the 2023 Champions League winners.

Londono posted on X: "UEFA is reportedly close to announcing that, if Manchester City is found guilty following its appeal, it will be expelled from all European competitions for a period of 7 to 10 years. Under that measure, it would be unable to participate in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. The club was found guilty of 115 financial violations in the first instance."

If they were relegated to the Championship and kept in the division for a further year, then it would be around three years before City could be in contention to even qualify for continental competitions.

However, suspension of seven to 10 years would keep them out for even longer. The question would then be: which players would be willing to sacrifice the chance of winning the Champions League to stay at the club?