Manchester City has been found guilty of the vast majority of the 134 disciplinary charges brought against them by the Premier League. While an official confirmation of the verdict is pending, the football world is operating on the assumption that reports of a significant win for the Premier League are accurate.
If these assumptions hold, Manchester City is expected to appeal the decision. Under Premier League rules, the club would have 14 days from the verdict's announcement to submit an appeal. The subsequent appeal process is anticipated to conclude within 12 weeks.
Should City appeal, they would focus on challenging the judicial panel's observations, not any resulting punishment, which is yet to be determined. New evidence, if previously unavailable, and new oral presentations would be permitted. A verdict from the appeal hearing is expected within 30 days of its conclusion.
If an appeal fails, the decision of the Appeal Board is considered final, though arbitration remains a potential, albeit stricter, route. Sanctions for City, if appeals are unsuccessful, could range from fines and point deductions to complete expulsion from the league, with a severe punishment expected given the verdict's magnitude.