Former England striker Darren Bent has called for Manchester City to be relegated to League Two and handed a six-year transfer ban if found guilty of their 115 alleged financial breaches.
Speaking on talkSPORT, the ex-Tottenham and Sunderland man did not hold back when asked what punishment City should face.
“City should be relegated to League Two, just like Rangers, and handed a six-year transfer ban,” Bent said.
Bent drew comparison to Scottish giants Rangers, who were demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football — the Third Division — in 2012 after going into liquidation.
Manchester City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 with 115 alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules between 2009 and 2018, with the club strongly denying any wrongdoing. The independent hearing into the case started in September 2024 and concluded earlier this year, with a verdict still pending.
The Premier League champions face a range of potential sanctions if found guilty, from heavy fines and points deductions to relegation, though legal experts believe a League Two demotion and a multi-year transfer ban would be unprecedented in English football.
Bent, who is now a prominent pundit, insisted that only a punishment of that magnitude would act as a proper deterrent to other clubs.
Meanwhile, City’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak released a statement to supporters concerning the 115 financial breaches.
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“I have been part of this club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.
“Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.
“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.
“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true.
“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.
“We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.”
