Manchester City is expected to learn the outcome of last year’s hearing regarding the over 100 charges of alleged financial rule violations in the Premier League in the coming months.

If found guilty of these breaches, Manchester City is said to face the possibility of Premier League relegation.

Such a move would likely serve as a warning to other clubs, but any claims that the English Football League (EFL) might refuse to admit City into the Championship, League One, or League Two seem improbable based on the league’s regulations.

According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, a points deduction is the most likely result, and it could be significantly harsher than the penalty Everton received for breaching profitability and sustainability rules. Maguire discussed this on episode four of the “Football on Trial: The Manchester City Charges” podcast on BBC Radio 5 Live. “A points deduction would be the most likely outcome should the club be found guilty,” Maguire stated.

“As for the severity of the points deduction, if Everton were given a 10-point deduction for breaching the limits by about £10-12 million in a single season, Manchester City’s penalty should be much more severe to set a strong example. We’re probably looking at a deduction between 60 and 100 points, which would almost certainly result in relegation from the Premier League and a drop into the lower leagues of the EFL.”

Maguire also pointed out that it seems City would need to be accepted by the EFL. “There have been suggestions that the EFL might refuse to admit Manchester City to its competitions, but based on their rulebook, I don’t think that’s likely,” he clarified.

However, as David Ornstein mentioned on NBC Sports before City’s loss to Liverpool, the club remains confident that their maximum penalty would be a fine, as they believe they will be cleared of the charges.