Man City’s sanction is unlikely to settle before the new year, and precedent explains why. Financial cases took Everton 339 days from referral to appeal ruling and Forest 112, while City’s has already run 1,327 days from charge to reported verdict. They were reportedly found guilty of 114 of 115 charges on 25 September, though neither the Premier League nor the club has confirmed it and no sanction exists. Past appeal gaps applied to a late-November sanction point to mid-January through mid-March 2027.

Four Clubs, Five Sanctions Since 1992

Four clubs, five sanctions: that’s the entire history of points being taken away in England’s top flight. Middlesbrough lost three points in 1997 for a postponed fixture, and Portsmouth lost nine in 2010 for entering administration. Everton and Nottingham Forest were punished under profit and sustainability rules in 2023-24. Only those last three cases are a fair comparison for City.

Everton took two sanctions: a 10-point cut to six on appeal, plus two more, eight in total. Their first-case losses were £124.5m against a £105m threshold, while Forest exceeded theirs by £34.5m.

*Trigger event (postponement or administration), not a formal charge.

From Charge to Verdict: How Long Each Took

Non-financial cases moved fast. Portsmouth’s deduction landed 19 days after administration, Middlesbrough’s 25 days after the postponed Blackburn game. A rule about a fixture ends in weeks, but a financial referral needs months of evidence and then a separate appeal.

Financial cases dragged. Everton’s first case took 238 days from referral to sanction and 339 to the appeal ruling. Forest needed 62 days to sanction and 112 to a final decision, while Everton’s second case took 83 and 115. Appeals added 101 days for Everton and 50 for Forest. City’s case has run 1,327 days from charge to reported verdict, with still no sanction. That’s almost four times the length of Everton’s first case, appeal included.

Premier League points deduction timeline Man City

City were charged on 6 February 2023, and the hearing ran from 16 September to 6 December 2024. The written judgment is said to run 500-700 pages and may not appear until late 2026 or early 2027. A separate sanctions hearing follows, with a decision reportedly due around November, possibly later. Both sides then get 14 days to appeal, and the rules say appeals should finish within 12 weeks, though that limit isn’t enforced.

This is an estimate, not an official date: Everton’s appeal ruling came 101 days after sanction and Forest’s 50. Applied to a late-November sanction, that points to mid-January through mid-March 2027.

Everton and Forest Took the Appeal Route

Everton’s appeal was heard from 31 January to 2 February 2024, and on 26 February the board cut the penalty from 10 points to six. Forest lodged an appeal on 26 March, and it was rejected on 7 May, leaving their four-point deduction intact. Forest’s route was quicker but no kinder, since the panel didn’t shift a single point.

Everton dropped their second appeal on 10 May. Neither club went down: Everton finished 15th on 40 points and Forest 17th on 32. Appeals trimmed one penalty and changed nothing for the other, so City shouldn’t bank on a discount.

This Season or Past Ones

It’s undecided whether any City deduction would fall on this season or past ones. Precedent points one way. Everton’s and Forest’s penalties for 2021-22 and 2022-23 breaches were applied to 2023-24, the season they were imposed, with immediate effect. A deduction imposed mid-campaign would hit whichever table City are chasing at the time.

Put the pieces together, and the Premier League points deduction timeline Man City face stretches well into 2027: a sanction in late November at the earliest, then appeals, then the points themselves, whenever they finally land.

Would a mid-season points hit for City be fair if appeals run into 2027? Drop your view in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many points were Everton deducted in 2023-24?

Everton lost eight points in total during 2023-24. An initial 10-point penalty was cut to six on appeal, and a second breach added two more in April 2024.

When will Man City’s punishment be announced?

No date has been set for a Man City sanction. A decision is reportedly due around November or possibly later, and appeals could push the final outcome into 2027.

Can Man City be relegated for the 115 charges?

Relegation is possible in principle, but nothing has been decided. City were reportedly found guilty of 114 charges, not 115, and penalties can include points deductions and expulsion.

Has any team been relegated after losing points for a rule breach?

Yes, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth both went down. Middlesbrough finished 19th in 1996-97, two points behind safe Coventry, and Portsmouth were already bottom in 2010.

Why were Middlesbrough deducted points in 1997?

They postponed a league game at Blackburn. The 21 December 1996 fixture was called off, citing 23 unavailable players, and the club was fined £50,000 and docked three points.