Schmeichel: City Must Start -25 Points for 5 Years

Peter Schmeichel has called for Manchester City to be punished with a 25-point deduction for each of the next five seasons if their appeal fails, following the club’s guilty verdict over financial rule breaches ^[1]. The former Manchester United and City legend, who ended his career at the Etihad, said the punishment should serve as a warning to all clubs that cheating in the Premier League has severe consequences ^[2]. Schmeichel also advocated for a five-year transfer ban, a substantial fine, and the forced sale of the club’s ownership, arguing they are unfit to run a top-tier English football club. He added that whether City keep their three league titles from 2009–2018 is irrelevant, as the focus should be on deterring future breaches.

Jaap Stam, Schmeichel’s former United teammate, echoed the sentiment, stressing that City should lose their titles due to their alleged cheating, while also calling for the Premier League to set a strong precedent ^[1]. The debate intensified after City’s 3-0 victory at Anfield, where Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Rayan Cherki scored following Ryan Gravenberch’s red card. The win restored City’s three-point lead over Arsenal, but the victory has been overshadowed by the ongoing legal and disciplinary fallout ^[2].

Despite the on-field success, pundits like Gary Neville admitted it was hard to praise City while the appeal remains active, noting that the points could be erased if the verdict stands ^[2]. The sanctions hearing is ongoing, with a final decision expected by the end of January 2027 ^[1]. The possibility of City being stripped of titles or relegated remains, but Schmeichel explicitly ruled out relegation, stating they should stay in the league but face long-term penalties.

City’s appeal is still pending, and the club maintains its innocence, claiming the financial breaches were misunderstood ^[1]. The controversy continues to dominate football discourse, with fans, pundits, and officials divided over how to address the case ^[2]. The story was first reported by Metro and Mirror. According to, Schmeichel’s full list of punishments—including the forced sale of ownership and bans for those involved—has been stated only in his own comments and has not been independently confirmed.