Former Football Association boss Mark Palios has stated that Manchester City chiefs should face personal punishments if findings that they orchestrated almost £1bn of secret payments to the club are upheld. An independent commission found all but one of more than 100 charges brought by the Premier League against City to be proven.
Manchester City has announced its intention to appeal the commission's decision. The club faces potential sanctions ranging from relegation to fines and transfer bans if the findings are upheld.
Palios, who was FA chief executive in 2003, believes that individuals responsible for the alleged cheating should be held accountable. He noted that the commission's decision included comments regarding City's intent, suggesting sanctions should affect not only the club and fans but also the individuals involved.
The independent commission found Manchester City guilty of artificially inflating revenue and decreasing costs by over £900m, primarily through what it termed "sham" contracts with related parties between 2009 and 2018. During this period, the club secured three Premier League titles, followed by five more domestic titles and a Champions League in the subsequent six years.
City has until the end of this week to lodge their appeal. Former City manager Pep Guardiola, who left in May, expressed his backing for the club's hierarchy on social media, stating, "we will get through this together."