Manchester City will “bounce back whatever happens” and “stand strong” in League One amid concerns they face “expulsion” from the Premier League over their 115 FFP charges.
Frustrations over the lack of action over City’s charges, brought against them over a year ago, are growing on the back of the sanctions of other clubs.

Premier League ‘expulsion’

Everton had their initial 10-point deduction reduced to six on review and have another charge pending, Nottingham Forest were deducted four points earlier this month, while Leicester are waiting to learn their punishment.
City’s FFP breaches between 2009 and 2018 include allegations of failing to disclose financial renumerations to one of their managers, failing to provide accurate financial information and not complying with UEFA’s FFP rules.
The 52-page document detailing the findings and reasons for Nottingham Forest’s four-point deduction suggests City could face ‘expulsion’ from the Premier League for their more significant transgressions.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has confirmed a date has been set for City’s hearing, but hasn’t divulged what that date is, though it’s widely believed to be in 2025.
According to Football Insider ‘the Premier League will begin hearings for Man City’s alleged profit and sustainability breaches this autumn’.
Related video: Guardiola's first Man City XI: where are they now? (Soccer Stories)

Hope was high in Manchester that he could replace the

Man City will “bounce back whatever happens”

But a guilty verdict and possible demotion isn’t a concern for former striker Paulo Wanchope, who was part of the last City squad to have lost their Premier League status back in 2001.
He believes the Citizens will “bounce back” regardless of what happens and backs the fans to who “stood strong” before to do so again.
Speaking in an exclusive interview via LiveScore Bet, Wanchope said: “They will be able to bounce back whatever happens. The fanbase is very, very strong. That’s why they are doing so well right now I think, because they had tough times before and got through it.
“I remember them playing in Division One [now the Championship] and Division Two [now League One] but even throughout that, the fans stood strong and they are very special. They will be okay whatever happens but hopefully there won’t be any damaging sanctions anyway.”
READ MORE: Man City ‘expulsion’? Juventus and Marseille among seven European giants relegated for rule breaks

Michael Edwards follows Man City lead as Liverpool opens talks with Ligue 1 side

Liverpool head of football operations Michael Edwards has reportedly opened talks with Toulouse over a deal that would see Fenway Sports Group acquire the Ligue 1 side as they look to build a multi-club network.
Edwards was announced as FSG’s new head of football earlier this month, and upon his appointment said one of the keys to his return – having previously operated as Liverpool’s sporting director – was the prospect of overseeing more than one club.

“Expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary”

He said: “One of the biggest factors in my decision is the commitment to acquire and oversee an additional club. I believe that to remain competitive, investment and expansion of the current football portfolio is necessary.”
The multi-club model has become more and more popular among football owners in recent times, with 13 clubs now owned by the City Football Group, who have Manchester City as their flagship team, and Chelsea owners Clearlake Capital buying a majority stake in Strasbourg shortly after taking over at Stamford Bridge.
FSG have been on the lookout for clubs to add to their portfolio for some time, but Edwards’ arrival has kicked things up a notch according to Football Insider.

Toulouse links should mean plain sailing

They claim Edwards has ‘held talks over a potential buyout’ of Toulouse, which should be amicable given the French club’s 85% owners RedBird Capital hold an 11% stake in FSG.
Damien Comolli, transfer chief at Anfield between 2010 and 2012, is the president of the French club after being appointed following RedBird’s takeover.
Related video: Edwards' appointment as football chief executive great for Liverpool, says Klopp (Reuters)

So I said a few times that I want

Toulouse, who returned to Ligue 1 in 2022, won the French Cup last season, earning them entry into the Europa League and games against Liverpool, and currently sit 11th in the tp flight.
Journalist Ben Jacobs recently confirmed that Edwards’ focus would be on building FSG’s multi-club network, while Richard Hughes will “assume the day-to-day role of sporting director”.
Jacobs said: “One of the most exciting things for Edwards is leading the acquisition of a second club, which means that Liverpool and FSG are going down the multi-club model route. Because Edwards is taking this more senior, all-encompassing position, Richard Hughes will assume the day-to-day role of sporting director, working closely with Dave Fallows and Barry Hunter. That’s enough for Liverpool; they don’t want too many cooks.
“The beauty of having Edwards return and the highly rated Hunter and Fallows still being there is a lot of continuity. Liverpool are always calm about these types of situations. They handled transitions better than anybody else.”
READ MORE: The Coutinho con and selling Salah to Klopp: Michael Edwards’ 10 Liverpool highlights

Man City ‘final verdict’ expected next season amid claim they are ‘facing’ Premier League ‘expulsion’

According to reports, Manchester City are ‘facing expulsion’ from the Premier League as their Financial Fair Play ‘hearing’ has been set for this year.
At the start of 2023, it was revealed that Man City were facing 115 charges for allegedly breaching the Premier League’s financial fair play regulations.

Man City ‘expulsion’?

Since then, Premier League rivals Everton and Nottingham Forest have been deducted points for breaching Profit and Sustainability rules, while Chelsea and Leicester City also find themselves in hot water.
After the reasoning for Forest’s punishment was revealed, ex-Everton and Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness indicated that this ensures Premier League ‘expulsion’ for Man City is ‘on the table’ if they are found guilty. 
Wyness said: “For the first time, I’ve noticed the word expulsion cropping up in the report from Nottingham Forest’s hearing.
“City must be noticing that for the first time, as well.
“We don’t know yet, and they’ve got every right to plead the case, but expulsion does seem to be on the table given the severity of what’s supposed to have happened.
“We’re yet to see the evidence, though, and we need to get it going sooner rather than later.”
Related video: Why Man City Are About To Unleash The Best Version Of Kevin De Bruyne (Dailymotion)

READ MORE: Mailbox… Man City one-time expulsion won’t work. They should pay off a 690-point debt
Man City’s case is far more complicated than what Everton and Forest dealt with so it was always going to take a while for a verdict to be reached.

Hearing date

And according to Football Insider, their Financial Fair Play ‘hearing date’ has now emerged. The report explains.

‘The Premier League will begin hearings for Man City’s alleged profit and sustainability breaches this autumn, sources have told Football Insider.
‘Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that hearings are set to commence just after the start of the 2024-25 campaign.’

READ MORE: Man City expulsion… Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal, Spurs and Watford among winners of re-allocated trophies

‘The Citizens are strongly contesting the huge number of charges against them, but well-placed sources have told Football Insider that a final verdict could be determined by the end of next season.
‘Allegations include not complying with UEFA’s FFP rules, failing to disclose the remunerations made to an ex-manager over a four-year period and not providing accurate financial information.
‘It has been suggested that Pep Guardiola’s side could even face expulsion from the top flight if found guilty – a potential punishment that was recently cited in an independent commission’s report into Nottingham Forest’s charges.’

Ex-Man City player Paulo Wanchope has argued that the club “will be okay” even if they are relegated from the Premier League.
“They will be able to bounce back whatever happens,” Wanchope told The Daily Star.
“The fanbase is very, very strong. That’s why they are doing so well right now I think, because they had tough times before and got through it.
“I remember them playing in Division One [now the Championship] and Division Two [now League One] but even throughout that, the fans stood strong and they are very special. They will be okay whatever happens but hopefully there won’t be any damaging sanctions anyway.”

Man City expulsion: How the City-less Premier League table would look, with Arsenal slipping

What if Manchester City’s 115 charges weren’t taking so long to sort through, and the prospect of expulsion had become a reality this season?
A lot of ‘ifs’ there, but its international week, so we took the champions’ results out of the Premier League table, which is bad news for Arsenal and Chelsea…

1) Liverpool – 62 points (+1 place)
One of the prices for kicking City out of the Premier League would be losing the bi-annual humdinger between Pep and Liverpool. Still, with Jurgen Klopp on his way, those classics might be a thing of the past anyway.
 
2) Arsenal – 61 points (-1)
No City, no top spot for Arsenal. Makes you think…
 
3) Aston Villa – 53 points (+1)
Without City, Villa fans would not have witnessed one of the great Premier League nights at Villa Park.
 
4) Tottenham – 51 points (+1)
And without City, we would not have been treated to that incredible 3-3 at the Etihad in December. Minds would never have been lost over a dreadful non-advantage either.
 
5) Manchester United – 47 points (+1)
No City, no worries for United about being humped twice a season in a derby. Fold them.
 
6) West Ham – 44 points (+1)
City teased West Ham by allowing them to take the lead at the London Stadium in September. Then natural order was restored after a word from the returning Pep.
Related video: Guardiola's first Man City XI: where are they now? (Soccer Stories)

7) Brighton – 42 points (+1)
City swerved a third consecutive Premier League defeat in October by beating Brighton. But they made bloody hard work of it.
 
8) Newcastle – 40 points (+2)
If City had ceased to exist as a Premier League club, Kevin De Bruyne wouldn’t have done this.
 
9) Wolves – 38 points (/)
One of the highlights of Wolves’ fine season was beating City at Molineux. Don’t take that away from them.
 
10) Fulham – 38 points (+2)
What else would we have had to talk about during the first week of September if City, with VAR as accomplices, hadn’t been around to rob the Cottagers.
Read more: Manchester City transfer cheat code: Burnley among those fleeced for nearly £240m during Pep reign
 
11) Chelsea – 37 points (/)
City and Chelsea gave us one of the best games of the season with meetings with Pep two of few highlights for Mauricio Pochettino this term.

 
12) Bournemouth – 35 points (+1)
The Cherries could certainly have done without going north for a six-goal pumping in November.
 
13) Crystal Palace – 26 points (-1)
Keeping City around would have been worth it just for Roy Hodgson laughing at Pep after Palace came from 2-0 down at the Etihad for a draw.
 
14) Brentford – 26 points (+1)
Erling Haaland’s crucial late winner at the Etihad against Brentford meant the City goal machine has now scored against every Premier League opponent he has faced. Job done for him, then.

Man City vs Brentford
© Provided by Football365
 
15) Everton – 25 points (+1)
City did to Everton exactly what they did to West Ham: tease them with a goal head-start, then put their foot down after half time for a 3-1 win.
 
16) Luton – 22 points (+1)
There’s a theme here… City trailed at half-time at Kenilworth Road; won by full-time.  
17) Nottingham Forest – 21 points (+1)
Forest, feeling hard done by, will be watching City’s case very closely to see how justice is done.

 
18) Burnley – 17 points (+1)
Vincent Kompany would doubtless fight City’s corner but Burnley wouldn’t be sad to lose City since they’ve conceded half a dozen to them in their two Premier League meetings.
 
19) Sheffield United – 14 points (+1)
The Blades have made a better fist of facing City than many Premier League sides, losing 2-1 and 2-0. No points, but no humiliation either, which is almost a win.
Read next: Man City expulsion: Liverpool, Man United, Arsenal, Spurs and Watford among winners of re-allocated trophies

Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior breaks down in Brazil press conference – ‘I’m losing desire to play’

Vinicius Junior broke down in tears in a media conference when asked about racism ahead of Tuesday night’s friendly between Spain and Brazil.
The Brazil and Real Madrid forward has been the target of racist abuse throughout his time in the Spanish capital and the ‘One Skin’ match at the Bernabeu was arranged last June as part of an anti-racism campaign in support of the player on the back of the abuse he received in a La Liga clash against Valencia.

“I’m losing my desire to play”

The racist abuse has if anything increased this season though, and Vinicius couldn’t control his emotions when asked about it in the press conference.
He said: “It’s something very sad what I have been going through here. It’s tough. I’ve been fighting against this for a long time.
“It’s exhausting because you feel like you are alone. I’ve made so many official complaints, but no one is ever punished.
“More and more I’m losing my desire to play, but I’ll keep fighting.”
When asked again about the abuse by journalists, an emotional Vinicius Jr replied: “I’m sorry.
“I just want to play football, do everything for my club and my family and never see black people suffering.”

‘Obtaining a competitive advantage’

Real Madrid have raised the issue of the abuse aimed at Vinicius on a number of occasions, most recently claiming the referee in their game against Osasuna failed to include the fans’ derogatory chants in his report.
The club issued a statement last week in which they announced that they has filed a complaint with the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation against Martinez Munuera, who they claim ‘omitted, voluntarily and deliberately, the insults and vexatious screams repeatedly directed at our player Vinicius Junior, despite being insistently warned by our players at the same time they were taking place.’
Related video: 'Vinicius Jr's talent can be overwhelming' Spain anticipate Brazil's qualities (SNTV)

It was claimed that the fans could be heard chanting “Vinicius, die” throughout the game.
Madrid explained that ‘it has conveyed the insults and vexatious screams to the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport’ with the aim of ‘that those who uttered them are identified and punished.’
La Liga issued a statement in response, in which it confirmed its commitment to eradicate all forms of intolerance from football, expressed ‘unequivocal support’ for the referee and claimed this was simply the latest attempt of many by Real Madrid to ‘obtain a competitive advantage’.
READ MORE: Racism victim Vinicius Jnr among five who could be next £100m footballer

Man Utd: Ratcliffe identifies ‘de facto kingmaker’ on Ten Hag future as INEOS get Ashworth boost

New Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘will task’ incoming CEO Omar Berrada ‘with deciding possible’ managerial change at Old Trafford, according to reports.
Erik ten Hag has been under pressure at times this season with the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League in the group stage, while they are sitting sixth in the Premier League amid inconsistent form.

Performances and results have been criticised following a solid first campaign in which Ten Hag led Man Utd to an FA Cup final, League Cup glory and a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Ten Hag also has the added pressure of Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the British billionaire recently completed a deal to buy 27.7 per cent of the club from the Glazers.
There is speculation that Ratcliffe could look to replace him if things don’t improve before the end of the campaign with Ten Hag easing a bit of pressure with a 4-3 victory over Liverpool in their FA Cup quarter-final.
And now Manchester Evening News claim that incoming CEO Berrada – who will join from arch-rivals Man City in the summer – is ‘poised to have a significant say on a possible Manchester United managerial change in the close season’.
READ MORE: Transfer gossip: Arsenal to swoop for City outcast as Man Utd eye Benfica, Juve, Bayern stars
Related video: Why The Manchester United Takeover Isn’t What It Seems (FourFourTwo)

is a British billionaire engineer and chairman of chemical giant

The report adds that ‘it is understood he would be the de facto kingmaker on any decision taken over manager Erik ten Hag’s future’ as Ratcliffe ‘does not want to intervene to determine’ the manager’s fate.
Despite Sir Dave Brailsford’s role in ‘conducting a thorough audit on United and sits on the football board, a well-placed source said he will not decide Ten Hag’s position’.
Newcastle’s Dan Ashworth is another appointment Ratcliffe is desperate to see over the line with the Geordies putting him on gardening leave while Man Utd attempt to agree a compensation fee to make him sporting director.
And in a boost to Man Utd’s hopes of convincing the Magpies to agree a fee for Ashworth, The Times claims that Newcastle ‘have identified Benfica’s Rui Pedro Braz as a candidate to replace’ Ashworth.
Braz ‘has been placed high on a list of potential successors by the London recruitment company tasked with sourcing an elite replacement for Newcastle’.


It is understood that the 45-year-old ‘travelled to London during the international break and was still in the capital on Saturday. He has been identified and interviewed for the Newcastle role by the executive search company Odgers Berndtson.’
READ MORE: Conor Gallagher next? Ranking all 10 academy products to swap Big Six clubs