Former Man City Chairman Calls for Club's Relegation

David Bernstein, who served as chairman of Manchester City from 1998 to 2003, stated that the club should be expelled from the Premier League after being found guilty of breaching financial regulations. An independent commission determined that Manchester City arranged “sham” contracts with commercial partners to inflate revenues and reduce costs over a nine-season period from 2009 to 2018.

The commission found the club guilty of failing to cooperate with the league's investigation and described the breaches as “extremely serious.” Bernstein emphasized the need for strong sanctions, suggesting that financial penalties alone would not suffice. Lisa Nandy, the Culture, Media and Sport secretary, acknowledged the seriousness of the report and the concerns it raised among fans.

The commission's findings indicated that Manchester City overstated their income by over £830 million ($1.09 billion) through a scheme known as ‘Project Longbow’. The club plans to appeal the decision, but Bernstein insists that if the appeal fails, the club cannot remain in the league.