Man City staff feeling 'concern, unease and nervousness' amid threat of Premier League expulsion

Manchester City staff are feeling 'concern, unease and nervousness' after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious Premier League financial-rule breaches, with expulsion among the possible sanctions. City were found guilty of all charges relating to financial-rule breaches between 2009-10 and 2017-18, as well as most of the charges over their failure to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation.

The club has appealed and continues to deny wrongdoing. The commission's findings included that City used "sham" commercial arrangements as part of what it called a "disguised funding scheme".

Stories Videos Your Say It said the arrangements artificially inflated the club's revenues and reduced its costs, with more than £830million linked to sponsorship deals. The Telegraph, which spoke to employees at City and across the wider City Football Group, reports that the verdict has left staff worried about their jobs and the club's future.

One employee said: "I'm not a worrier by nature but there's no ignoring this. It's very hard not to listen to the things that are being said and written.

Manchester City staff are feeling 'concern, unease and nervousness' after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious Premier League financial-rule breaches, with expulsion among the possible sanctions Staff were reportedly taken aback by the language used in the commission's ruling, which repeatedly described arrangements as sham". One employee told the newspaper: "The thing that has shocked me more than anything is the language the commission used to describe the club's conduct.

I'm still a bit shell-shocked by the ferocity of what the commission said. I think that's what's worried me.

City chief executive Ferran Soriano has urged employees to stay focused, describing the case as a potential distraction and encouraging them to look after the extended City family". LATEST SPORTS NEWS: Pep Guardiola set to make emotional Man City return after Premier League's guilty verdict Jon Rahm to leave LIV Golf after being offered 'unacceptable' terms Christian Horner's staggering Red Bull payout revealed in new accounts Man City chiefs Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano have insisted the club are innocent The club maintains that the commission's decision contains material errors and is unsafe, and says it has evidence to support its appeal.

Possible penalties include a fine, points deduction, suspension or expulsion from the Premier League. No sanction has been announced, and the appeal process is ongoing.

Some employees are said to have faith in chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and want to wait until the appeal is concluded before reaching a view. Others have said the findings have made it difficult not to worry.