Ever since reports emerged that Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League over breaches of its financial regulations, the discussion has largely centred around a potential punishment.
The alleged FFP breaches are related to a period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, when Man City won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups and one Community Shield.
A Man City spokesperson has since responded to such claims, insisting that the process remains “ongoing”, with “significant elements” still to be completed.
A statement sent to Standard Sport on Friday reads: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.
"As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
Now, it is understood that a decision on potential sanctions has yet to be reached, with a wide range of punishments said to be on the table from substantial fines to points deductions or even possibly expulsion from the Premier League or the retrospective stripping of titles.
The scenario of Man City being retrospectively stripped of the trophies won during the aforementioned period is the potential punishment that has certainly caught the attention of many Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United supporters on social media.
But what would each club win if they were handed the retrospective titles should Man City be stripped of their eight trophies? Standard Sport takes a look...
Arsenal
Despite the appeals of many Arsenal fans as soon as reports emerged, they would not be awarded a single retrospective Premier League title. This is because the seasons in which they finished runners-up to Man City has not been under investigation.
The Gunners would, however, get a League Cup after being demolished 3-0 by City in the 2017-18 final at Wembley.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s comments about having a parade in his garden to celebrate a retrospective Liverpool Premier League title resurfaced on Friday, though the season in question is 2013-14 when Brendan Rodgers was in charge of the Reds.
The German, however, would be able to celebrate a League Cup after losing 2015-16 final on penalties to a Man City side then managed by Manuel Pellegrini.
Manchester United
Perhaps the biggest beneficiaries. Man United were twice runners-up to Man City in the Premier League during the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, meaning two more league titles would be on their way to Old Trafford.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has been vocal about this on X, formerly Twitter, even pushing a case for Jose Mourinho, who has always spoken highly of that second-placed finish in 2017-18.
