A former Manchester City player has predicted what supporters will do if the club is found guilty of financial breaches and relegated from the Premier League.
In February 2023 City were charged with 115 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, largely related to the value of sponsorship deals.
Among other things, City stand accused on overstating the value of their sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways.
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German publication Der Spiegel claimed that leaked emails showed that much of Etihad's financial obligation to City was in fact funded directly by the club's owners, Abu Dhabi United Group.
Earlier this year Premier League CEO Richard Masters said a date has been fixed for City's case to be heard by an independent panel, with rumours that it could be this autumn.
If City are found guilty, then the treble winners and reigning Premier League champions could face punishments ranging from fines to relegation.
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In the event that Pep Guardiola's side are relegated to English football's third tier or below, former player Paulo Wanchope believes the fans will stand by their club.
The striker, who was part of the last City team to be relegated from the top flight in 2001, told LiveScoreBet: "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.
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"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."
Given that Everton and Nottingham Forest have received hefty points deductions for relatively minor breaches of Premier League financial rules this season, it's entirely possible that City could be demoted if found guilty.
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, FFP, Pep Guardiola
Alex Brotherton