Club officials want Man City punishment decided this season

Senior figures from across English football have told BBC Sport they believe Manchester City's punishment for breaching Premier League financial rules should be decided before the current season concludes. On Tuesday, the Premier League confirmed City had been found guilty on all charges relating to breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

The breaches reportedly included inflating revenue by more than £900m through what were described as "sham" sponsorship arrangements. City have consistently denied wrongdoing and are expected to lodge an appeal by the end of this week.

There is concern that the process, already running for three years since charges were first brought, could drag on considerably longer. Even so, senior football sources say they see no reason the matter can't be wrapped up by season's end.

One club official, speaking anonymously, said resolving the case quickly would benefit everyone, while stressing the outcome must still be handled correctly. Another source expressed hope that any appeal proceedings would be shortened.

An independent commission holds the final say on punishment, though both the Premier League board and City itself can propose an appropriate sanction beforehand. Concerns are growing that if City reach the end of the season unpunished — potentially while winning the title — it could create confusion and an awkward, farcical situation for the league.

Under Premier League rules, an appeal should typically conclude within 12 weeks of being filed, with a ruling following within 30 days after that. However, City chief executive Ferran Soriano has suggested the process could stretch on for a long time yet. City cannot escalate further to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, though they could theoretically challenge the fairness of the process through the High Court.