Manchester City need a nine-year sanction, says architect of Premier League

Alex Fynn, a principal figure in the formation of the Premier League, has called for a nine-year ban on Manchester City if they lose their appeal against the recent 100-plus guilty verdicts. This punishment would serve justice while preserving the financial stability of English clubs. The integrity of the Premier League must be safeguarded, but not at the expense of the league itself.

Fynn suggests that over nine years, City could face progressively diminishing points deductions, preventing an immediate relegation that would disrupt the league's fairness. Manchester City's financial strength enabled them to outspend their rivals, notably Arsenal, depriving the latter of key players like Adebayor, Nasri, Sagna, and Clichy.

This has indirectly affected other clubs, as City's improved resources prevented them from winning titles consistently over the past decade. In his latest book, Fynn and co-author Kevin Whitcher highlight Arsenal's Champions League final loss to Paris Saint-Germain last season, attributing their failure to the absence of a standout player in their current squad.

Arsenal may need to secure a world-class talent to compete with the likes of Real Madrid and PSG in European competitions.