Premier League penalty all but confirmed if Man City are found guilty as Liverpool watch on.
The independent comission has suggested that Premier League clubs could face sporting sanctions in future, if found guilty of financial breaches.
Liverpool will be paying close attention to the punishments that could be handed out to their Premier League rivals in the future.
Fresh from local rivals Everton being docked 10 points for a single breach of the league’s profit and sustainability rules, the punishment dealt to the Toffees was unprecedented in the English top flight.
For context, Portsmouth were deducted nine points for entering administration, back in 2010.
It is for this reason that Liverpool will be keeping an eye on the charges surrounding Manchester City, with the two clubs regularly involved in narrow title races.
In February, reigning champions City were presented with a total of 115 charges by the Premier League, relating to alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.
The Manchester club have denied every accusation, but the points deduction given to Everton highlights the potential severity of the case.
Chelsea are another club that are currently under investigation after the new ownership uncovered potential financial breaches.
The west London side have already reached a settlement with UEFA over these issues but, unlike the European governing body, the Premier League does not have a statute of limitations and the independent commission is still conducting their investigation into these alleged breaches.
The independent comission’s summary of the case against Everton has outlined that a fine is not a sufficient penalty, when dealing with Premier League clubs.
This suggests that further sporting sanctions, including points deductions, are to be expected, if other teams are found guilty of financial breaches.
In the summary of Everton’s points deduction, the independent commission said:
“We have no doubt that the circumstances of this case are such that only a sporting sanction in the form of a points deduction would be appropriate.
A financial penalty for a club that enjoys the support of a wealthy owner is not a sufficient penalty.
“We agree with the Premier League that the requirements of punishment, deterrence, vindication of compliant clubs, and the protection of the integrity of the sport demand a sporting sanction in the form of a points deduction.
The issue is not the form of sanction, but its extent.”
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What could lie ahead for the man that has inspired Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League triumphs?
Mo Salah’s future at Liverpool has been the subject of further speculation in recent weeks as the Egypt star prepares to enter the final 18 months of his current deal at Anfield.
Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad were keen to add Salah to the growing ranks of superstars that were enticed to the Gulf state during the summer transfer window – but their interest and reported offers were both swiftly dismissed by the Liverpool hierarchy.
There is said to be a clear determination to bring a deal to fruition over the coming months as the Saudi club are ready to make Salah one of the highest paid players in world football and put him alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar as the league’s highest profile players.
But what is the state of play as some key decisions over Salah’s future at Anfield continue to dominate the headlines.
A shock £480m offer
There was major concern surrounding the Anfield faithful earlier this season after it was announced the Saudi summer transfer window would close seven days after trading in the Premier League had come to an end.
That allowed Al-Ittihad to make one last push to persuade Liverpool to sell Salah and there were widespread reports the Pro League club submitted a £150m offer for the forward in the final week of August.
That offer – which would have set a Premier League record – was flatly refused by the Reds hierarchy and there were further reports suggesting the Saudi outfit would be willing to part with £200m to entice a sale out of the Anfield club.
However, Liverpool denied any suggestions the forward could be sold, despite talk Salah was set to receive a ‘mega money contract’ that would have landed him anywhere between £400m and £480m over three years.
Liverpool’s clear plan
Liverpool’s determination to hold on to Salah has been well-versed in recent months after a number of key figures insisted the Egyptian would remain at the club.
That stance has been firmly supported by recent reports as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano told Kick Salah would not be allowed to leave Anfield during the January transfer window ‘under any circumstances’ – although a key decision will lie in wait for player and club as the Reds star will enter into the final 12 months his current deal at the end of the season.
A ‘crisis’ emerges
Talk of Al-Ittihad’s attempts to persuade Liverpool to sell Salah are ongoing – but the Saudi club have more pressing matters after a poor start to the season led to the departure of former Wolves and Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo earlier this month.
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