Jesse Marsch calls for Man City relegation after Premier League financial ruling

Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch believes Manchester City should face a “severe” punishment and be relegated to the Championship following the Premier League’s ruling against the club.

City were found guilty last week of charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

The club strongly deny wrongdoing and have already launched an appeal, arguing that the commission’s findings contain significant errors of “law, principle and fact”.

Marsch, however, believes the punishment should be substantial if the verdict stands.

The current Canada head coach was in charge of Leeds during the 2022/23 season and has now questioned Manchester City’s financial activity during that period.

“I think Man City should be punished severely,” Marsch said. “I think they should have to go down, and by the way, everyone knew about it.”

Marsch specifically pointed towards the summer of 2022, when Leeds sold Raphinha to Barcelona and Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City.

He claims Leeds and City were among the few Premier League clubs to report a profit despite operating under very different circumstances.

“For us, we did make money, because we sold Raphinha, we sold Kalvin Phillips,” he explained.

“When Man City says this, I was literally like, ‘Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of joke?’”

Marsch also raised doubts about the finances surrounding City’s signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

Haaland joined City in 2022 after the club activated the release clause in his Dortmund contract.

“When they said they got Erling Haaland for £52m, it's like: ‘Yeah, OK, sure!’” Marsch said.

“So, I knew there were inconsistencies in it, but what can you do? You just put your arms in the air and go, ‘This is football’.”

Marsch also referenced the financial punishments subsequently imposed on Everton and Nottingham Forest after Leeds had been relegated from the Premier League.

City have made clear that the case is far from over.

The club confirmed it lodged a comprehensive appeal on October 1 and continues to maintain its innocence.

City claim the original opinion is “unsafe” and contains material errors, while insisting they possess evidence supporting their position.

That means any discussion about potential punishments remains dependent on the outcome of the appeal process.

For Marsch, though, relegation should be on the table if the guilty verdict is ultimately upheld.

Manchester City’s appeal is now the crucial next stage of the case.

The club maintains that it has a comprehensive body of evidence supporting its innocence, meaning the original findings remain contested.

Until that process is completed, potential sanctions — including the type of relegation demanded by Marsch — remain hypothetical.