For Manchester City 2026, see Saracens 2019

The recent independent commission's verdict on 115 charges lodged by the Premier League against Manchester City reveals a blatant case of cheating. Manchester City, owned by Abu Dhabi, denies the allegations. However, to determine the appropriate punishment, we can draw inspiration from the most notorious cheating scandal in rugby - Saracens' 2019 incident.

In that case, Saracens set up companies, image rights schemes, and promotional payments to circumvent the salary cap, resulting in fines over £5m and a 35-point deduction, ultimately relegating them to the second-tier Championship. Although the team stayed together and even won a title afterward, fans couldn't mock their existence due to the pandemic.

Looking at the Saracens saga, the Premier League and its punishers can learn that relegate Manchester City is not the only solution. Instead, a points deduction every year for five years, or even a points deduction in chunks, could effectively maintain their presence in the league without allowing them to rise from the ashes. This would ensure long-term suffering while preventing them from marketing themselves as champions again.

Additionally, the Premier League should consider other learnings from rugby, such as implementing a transfer ban, limiting the signing of non-English players, and ensuring the punishment is visible to fans. By learning from Saracens' experience, the Premier League can effectively deter other clubs from brazen attempts to circumvent rules and ensure that fans feel their outrage has been heard.