Man City owners facing sanctions over transfer that could lead to RELEGATION

Suraj Radia

• 2 May 2024 21:30 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester City’s owners face further punishment that could lead to a relegation after being hit with more accusations of financial irregularity.

The City Football Group also own La Liga side Girona, who are having a historic season mounting a title challenge, with the Catalan side sitting third in the league.

However, reports in Ukraine have stated that Girona’s signing of top scorer Artem Dovbyk last summer could be investigated by UEFA due to an illegal plan to avoid paying tax.

READ MORE: 10 La Liga stars who could leave this summer

Dovbyk, who has scored 19 La Liga goals this season, cost Girona a club record €8 million from Dnipro and a lawyer, Evgeniy Kuzmin, claims that a company was registered in Estonia in order to avoid paying more tax in Ukraine.

Kuzmin said: "I trust that the competent UEFA bodies, to which I have prepared a complaint, will investigate these violations and make a fair and appropriate decision. I hope that the Ukrainian Football Federation will pay attention to this matter.”

The report – corroborated by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo – claims that Girona could be sanctioned by UEFA, which could lead to a large fine as well as expulsion from European and domestic championships.

Girona likely to face fine as City wait on punishment

The news would be another blow to the City Football Group, who are already facing 115 charges from the Premier League over financial irregularities which could see Man City face significant punishment.

City’s case is due to develop over the summer, with the Premier League currently remaining tight lipped on a punishment or details over the infringements.

READ MORE: Man City’s 10 most expensive transfers of all time

For Girona, accusations of wrongdoing could hinder the most successful season in the club’s history, having led La Liga for a large period of the season in a shock campaign.

However, Mundo Deportivo state that a lawyer with an expertise in UEFA law has indicated that Girona’s potential violations are ‘not considered a reason for sanctioning loss of category or non-participation in Europe’, meaning the Spaniards could instead face a fine if found guilty.