Senior football figures have told BBC Sport that Manchester City should receive its punishment for breaching Premier League financial regulations before the end of the season.
The Premier League said on Tuesday that City had been found guilty of all charges relating to financial regulation breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The charges included artificially inflating revenue by more than £900m through what the Premier League described as “sham” sponsorship deals.
City have consistently denied the allegations and are expected to lodge an appeal by the end of this week.
The case has already taken three years since City were charged, raising concerns that the process could continue for much longer.
However, senior figures at other clubs have told BBC Sport that there is no reason the case cannot be concluded before the end of the current season.
Speaking anonymously, one club official said: “It benefits everyone for this to be resolved as quickly as possible.”
Asked whether they expected that to happen, the official said: “Instinctively yes, but it has to be done right.
“We can all see what the risks are if it’s not. But those risks have been there throughout the process, as they’ve won the league multiple times during it.”
Another source said the case “should” be resolved by the end of the season and expressed hope that any appeal would be “compressed”.
The final decision will be made by an independent commission. The Premier League board and Manchester City can suggest an appropriate punishment before the panel reaches its decision.
There is growing pressure for the case to be resolved this season because allowing City to complete the campaign without a punishment could create uncertainty, particularly if they were to win the Premier League title.
One section of Premier League regulations states that an appeal should be concluded within 12 weeks of being filed, with a decision made within 30 days of the appeal ending.
However, it remains unclear whether those time limits would apply to City’s case.
Procedures can be accelerated to meet certain deadlines, including the end of a league season.
Manchester City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, has previously suggested that the case could continue for a considerable period.
City cannot make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), although the club could potentially challenge the impartiality of the process at the High Court.
In its statement formally announcing the guilty verdicts, the Premier League said it wanted the process to be “concluded as soon as possible”.
Etihad Considers Legal Action
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s main sponsor, Etihad Airways, said it is considering legal action against the Premier League.
The United Arab Emirates-based airline said it “categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements”.
Etihad also criticised the Premier League’s public handling of the findings, saying it had been affected by “selective leaks and reporting”.
The airline said it had not been named in the published redacted findings and had not been given an opportunity to participate in a process that it believes now reflects “adversely on the airline”.
The statement added: “Etihad is deeply concerned by the way this matter has been communicated publicly.
“The lack of clarity and transparency, together with the selective disclosure of information, has created damaging implications for Etihad despite the airline not being named in the published decision.
“The Premier League must take responsibility for the consequences of the way in which these findings have been presented.
“Etihad will seek the relevant legal counsel on the options and recourse available to protect its interests.”
The Premier League declined to comment when contacted by BBC Sport.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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