The Premier League champions are facing a potentially brutal punishment after they were found guilty of over 100 charges related to financial rules

Manchester City are set to be given a “huge” points deduction for breaching Premier League rules. The current league toppers could be forced to play their football in the Championship for two years as punishment for being found guilty of over 100 charges in relation to financial rules.

The club has always denied wrongdoing and is battling to clear its name on appeal. But last night there were claims swirling in sports media circles that Erling Haaland’s team are expected to be given a “brutal” points deduction that will guarantee relegation.

And a report claimed footie chiefs are pushing to announce City’s punishment before the results of their appeal are revealed. The most likely punishment, according to sports sources, is a “swingeing” points deduction which will make it almost impossible for City to survive dropping down a league.

And there was talk of City receiving another points deduction that would keep them in the second tier for a further year. Expulsion from the top flight is “unlikely” because it would throw the EFL into “unprecedented chaos”.

But a points reduction would almost certainly see them naturally come last at the end of the season, meaning automatic relegation. Premier League rivals are insisting behind closed doors that City’s punishment is resolved before the end of this current season.

The club’s appeal case is expected to be resolved around Christmas or shortly into the New Year as a new fast-track process means their appeal, which was lodged on October 1, must be heard within 12 weeks. The verdict must then be delivered within 30 days.

The Etihad club were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Prem’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation.

The commission found the club set up “sham” commercial deals with sponsors that allowed them to hide £900million during the period of investigation from 2009 to 2018.

In a statement alongside the commission’s findings, the Prem alleged City “systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade”.

City have stressed they have “irrefutable evidence” which clears their name and vowed to be “relentless” in their fight against the Prem.

Enzo Maresca’s side are currently top of the table after a perfect start to the season saw them win all seven games so far.

Lawyer James Severn has claimed that Man City face ‘substantial hurdles’ in order to be successful in their appeal.

He said: “City will need to identify a material error of law, principle or fact, or serious procedural unfairness, which materially affected the Commission’s decision.”

Maresca said last week he “completely trusts” the club and believes it will win its appeal.