Government warns Man City could be kicked out of Premier League after £900m controversy

Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League if their appeal against the financial breaches verdict fails, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has warned. The Government minister raised the prospect of the "ultimate sanction" as the club confronts the fallout from an independent commission's findings into commercial arrangements worth around £900million.

City deny wrongdoing and insist they have "irrefutable evidence" to support their position. They have pledged to challenge the decision, with their punishment yet to be determined.

Stories Videos Your Say But Nandy made clear that removal from football's top flight is among the possible consequences if the findings survive an appeal. Speaking to Channel 5, she said: "I don't want to pre-empt any kind of appeal process, and they are entitled to a fair hearing.

"But what I would say is that the ultimate sanction is very serious indeed. "I mean, a club can be expelled from the Premier League if these sorts of allegations are upheld, with obviously huge repercussions for everybody.

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Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League if their appeal against the financial breaches verdict fails, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has warned Her comments came after league chiefs confirmed the damning findings following reports of the verdict last week. The commission found City had arranged "sham" commercial deals through a disguised funding scheme between 2009 and 2018.

The club won three Premier League titles during that period. Nandy also called for clarity and consistency in the enforcement of football's financial rules, stressing the importance of protecting supporters.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS: Man City players told to 'stick their medals in the bin' as club face unprecedented crisis Furious Cristiano Ronaldo set to hold emergency meeting with Portugal bosses Luke Humphries takes aim at fan in crowd after victory in World Grand Prix Lisa Nandy also called for clarity and consistency in the enforcement of football's financial rules, stressing the importance of protecting supporters "So there are very serious sanctions, and I think the bigger issue is how do we make sure that we have clearly understood rules that are upheld and applied consistently, and that we can move quickly when they're breached," she said. "The Premier League is one of our greatest exports.

"It brings joy to millions of people, and we want to make sure that we protect it for the fans for the future." The intervention adds a political dimension to a case provoking fierce reactions across football. Former City chairman David Bernstein, who held the position until 2003, said the "sanctions cannot just be financial" and called for the board to "be suspended immediately".

Roy Keane has also delivered a scathing assessment, saying he would put his medals "in the bin" if he had played for City."