MANCHESTER CITY are being warned they could face their D-day over financial fair play as early as next year — and “all hell will break loose” if they lose.
And Chelsea have been told it is “inevitable” they will be in trouble after admitting to rule-breaking during Roman Abramovich’s reign.
Football is still reeling from Everton’s sanction for breaching FFP rules.
And football finance expert Stefan Borson said: “There are too many things that ‘might’ happen if City are found against. It will be very serious — all hell will break loose.
“It will turn into an enormous story — not just in respect of football but much wider than that. So many parties will be implicated. It will be an incredibly explosive situation.”
Lawyer Borson, who was previously an adviser at the Etihad, insisted that demotion would be on the cards if City and Chelsea are found guilty.
He added: “From a football perspective, it’s impossible to think City would not be relegated if all of these things were found against them.”
When City were charged with 115 FFP rule breaches in February, there were claims it could take up to four years for the results of the investigation to be known.
Borson says it could be sooner, adding: “The hearing is likely to be in 2024 at some point.
“The Premier League are bound to be concerned about what they would do if City are found guilty. The fact the League charged City with such serious matters shows you this is a very bold move.”
Chelsea have admitted they broke rules in the Abramovich era — but hope the fact a new regime is now in place will protect them.
That is highly unlikely according to Borson, who believes they are also in danger of breaking profit and sustainability rules following new US owner Todd Boehly’s £1billion transfer splurge since he took over.
Borson said: “They will have to charge Chelsea for off-book payments (under Abramovich) — I don’t see any way round it and it will inevitably be very serious for them.
“I’m confident they won’t get leniency simply because they’ve admitted it and it happened in the previous ownership.” – Sun.