A new report has reignited discussion among Liverpool supporters about whether the club could be awarded Premier League titles retrospectively if Manchester City are stripped of trophies following the financial-rule case.
Manchester City were found guilty of 114 financial-rule breaches covering the period from 2009 to 2018. The verdict has led to renewed debate about what sporting punishment City could eventually face.
Liverpool are particularly relevant because they finished runners-up to City on several occasions during the period, although only the 2013/14 season falls within the years covered by the charges. Liverpool famously finished second that season, behind City.
However, according to reporting cited by the article, Premier League insiders do not expect titles to simply be taken from Manchester City and handed to the teams that finished second. The Athletic’s Oliver Kay reported that sanctions are expected to be more forward-looking rather than automatically rewriting historical league tables.
Possible sporting punishments discussed include points deductions, relegation, heavy fines or even expulsion from the Premier League. Stripping titles from seasons in which breaches occurred is also reportedly possible, but the article says this is considered unlikely.
The situation is also not necessarily over yet, as City are expected to appeal the verdict. That means any eventual punishment and its effect on previous seasons could still take time to become clear.
Bottom line: Liverpool supporters may be discussing the possibility of receiving the 2013/14 title retrospectively, but there is currently no confirmation that Liverpool will be awarded that or any other additional Premier League title. The report’s central point is that retrospective redistribution of trophies is not currently expected.
