Manchester City are accused of committing 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018 — allegations the club has consistently denied.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, Maguire suggested that any punishment handed to City would likely dwarf the sanctions imposed on Everton and Nottingham Forest in 2024.
“The Premier League cannot relegate Manchester City to League One or League Two because that is an EFL decision,” Maguire explained.
“Therefore, it has to be a points deduction.”
Maguire pointed out that Everton and Nottingham Forest were deducted six and four points respectively for single offences spanning a three-year period. By contrast, the allegations against Manchester City cover nine years, making the case far more serious.
“If we look at precedent, you have to add a zero to what we’ve seen with Forest and Everton,” he said.
“Somewhere between a 40 and 60-point deduction would be consistent with previous decisions.”
Beyond FFP breaches, Maguire suggested the case could involve allegations bordering on corporate fraud, which would have wider consequences beyond points deductions.
“Corporate fraud is a very serious accusation,” he said.
“If proven, the board of directors would have to go.”
He referenced the example of Juventus, whose board resigned following proven financial irregularities in Serie A.
“There is an honesty issue here. If Manchester City are found guilty, it could lead to a complete restructure of the club.”
Both Manchester City and the Premier League remain confident ahead of the verdict, with the lengthy investigation reflecting the scale and complexity of the allegations.
A final ruling is expected to have major implications for English football, potentially reshaping the competitive balance of the league.
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