Peter Schmeichel calls for five-year points penalties for Manchester City

Peter Schmeichel has urged the Premier League to impose long-term sporting and ownership sanctions on Manchester City after the club were found guilty of financial-rule breaches relating to income of more than £900 million between 2009 and 2018.

Key takeaways

• Schmeichel proposed that City remain in the top flight but begin each of the next five league seasons on minus 25 points.
• The former Manchester United and City goalkeeper also called for a five-year transfer embargo and a major financial penalty.
• He believes City’s current owners should be made to sell the club, while individuals involved should be barred from working in football.
• City have appealed the ruling, with the final position on the case and any punishment potentially not known until late January 2027.
• On the pitch, City beat Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield to move three points clear of Arsenal before facing Paris Saint-Germain and Ipswich.

Schmeichel calls for lasting consequences

Schmeichel, who finished his playing career at Manchester City, said the response should be severe enough to deter other clubs from breaching Premier League regulations. While he did not advocate immediate relegation, he argued that a substantial points handicap over several seasons would have a more enduring effect.

“Keep them in the Premier League,” Schmeichel said. “But for every year they’re in the Premier League, the next five years, they start on -25 points.”

He said a punishment of that scale would serve as a warning across the competition, arguing that clubs which break the rules and damage their rivals should face serious repercussions. His proposed package included a five-year ban on registering players and a significant fine.

Schmeichel also called for the ownership to change hands, saying he did not believe those currently in charge were suitable to run a club in English football. He further suggested bans from the game for everybody deemed to have played a part in the breaches.

On the question of honours already won, Schmeichel was less emphatic. He said titles could either be removed or left in place, adding that the issue was not decisive compared with the need for sanctions on the club and those responsible.

Appeal continues as City return to fixtures

Manchester City maintain that they have done nothing wrong and submitted an appeal in early October. The process could run well into the season, with a final verdict on the appeal and any resulting disciplinary measures not expected before the end of January 2027.

The legal uncertainty has not prevented City from maintaining their push at the top of the Premier League. Enzo Maresca’s side secured an important 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield, where Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki were on the scoresheet.

That result restored a three-point lead over Arsenal in the title race. City now turn their attention to a major Champions League meeting with Paris Saint-Germain, before resuming league duties at home to Ipswich.