Manchester City could face one of the most significant punishments in English football history if they are handed a points deduction following their Premier League financial charges.
City were reportedly found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them, relating largely to alleged financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, alongside accusations of failing to cooperate with the investigation.
The club are expected to appeal the verdict, meaning no punishment has been confirmed at this stage.
A points deduction is among the possible sanctions being discussed, alongside other potential penalties including a fine, transfer restrictions or even expulsion from the Premier League.
But how severe could a points deduction actually be?
To put the situation into context, we look at some of the biggest points deductions handed out in English football history.
Luton – 30 points (2008/09)
Luton’s 30-point deduction remains the biggest points penalty handed out in English football.
The Hatters began the 2008/09 League Two season with a 10-point deduction imposed by the Football Association over illegal payments to agents. They were then hit with another 20-point penalty for failing to comply with the rules surrounding their exit from administration.
The punishment left Luton facing an enormous battle to avoid relegation, and they ultimately finished bottom of League Two. The season also marked the first time in their history that they dropped out of the Football League.
Derby – 21 points (2021/22)
Derby County suffered a combined 21-point deduction during the 2021/22 Championship season.
The Rams were initially docked 12 points after entering administration before another nine points were deducted for breaches of the EFL’s accounting rules. The punishment left Wayne Rooney’s side at the bottom of the Championship and facing a huge fight for survival.
Derby responded with 14 league victories but ultimately finished 23rd, seven points from safety, and were relegated to League One.
Bournemouth – 17 points (2008/09)
Bournemouth began the 2008/09 League Two campaign with a 17-point deficit after failing to meet the EFL’s requirements for exiting administration.
The Cherries had already been deducted 10 points the previous season, a punishment that contributed to their relegation from League One. Despite starting their League Two campaign so far behind the rest of the division, Bournemouth managed to stay up. They finished 21st, nine points clear of relegation.
Rotherham – 17 points (2008/09)
Rotherham suffered the same 17-point deduction during the 2008/09 League Two season. The penalty was also related to the club’s failure to comply with EFL requirements when exiting administration.
The Millers faced the additional threat of dropping out of the EFL altogether, but managed to overcome the deficit. They eventually finished 14th with 58 points.
Leeds – 15 points (2007/08)
Leeds United started their 2007/08 League One campaign with a 15-point deduction after failing to comply with the EFL’s insolvency rules. The club appealed the punishment, but their attempt to have the deduction reduced was unsuccessful after other clubs voted against the appea
Remarkably, Leeds still finished sixth after winning 27 games and qualified for the play-offs. Their promotion hopes ultimately ended at Wembley, where they lost 1-0 to Doncaster in the final.
