Premier League Giants Face Financial Fallout After Man City Charges
Clubs like Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal may have lost millions in prize money and qualification spots due to Manchester City's alleged financial rule breaches.
The recent Premier League charges against Manchester City for alleged financial misconduct could have significant financial repercussions for rival clubs, with Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal potentially having lost millions in prize money and qualification for lucrative competitions. The charges, numbering 115, center on alleged breaches of financial rules over a nine-season period from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
During this era, Manchester City's wage bill saw a dramatic increase after their acquisition by Abu Dhabi owners, significantly exceeding the Premier League average. In the 2009-10 season, City's wage bill jumped by £50 million, nearly doubling the league average. By 2012-13, with a league title secured, their spending was 2.6 times the Premier League average.
Tottenham Hotspur's Missed Opportunities
Tottenham Hotspur is identified as one of the most significant potential losers. The club finished outside the Champions League places four times between 2009 and 2017, including three fifth-place finishes in 2010-11, 2012-13, and 2014-15. A particularly unfortunate season was 2011-12, when they finished fourth but missed out on Champions League qualification because Chelsea, who finished sixth, won the competition.
Had Manchester City not been competing at their inflated financial level, Tottenham could have secured qualification for Europe's elite competition on multiple occasions. The financial rewards for Champions League participation are substantial; for instance, reaching the semi-finals in 2015-16 earned City approximately £61.2 million, while even group stage exits yielded around £24 million per season. In contrast, Tottenham's Europa League campaign in 2011-12 brought in £2.7 million.
Manchester United's Title Aspirations
Manchester United could have had more than their current 20 league titles. In the dramatic 2011-12 season, they lost the title to Manchester City on goal difference. They were also runners-up to City's record-breaking 100-point season in 2017-18. These close finishes represent a loss of nearly £3 million in merit payments alone, not accounting for potential increases in commercial revenue and brand value that come with winning titles.
Furthermore, Manchester United missed Champions League qualification in 2015-16, finishing fifth behind City on goal difference, which relegated them to the Europa League. While they won the Europa League the following season, earning approximately £38 million, this amount is less than the £48 million City reportedly earned for reaching the Champions League last 16 in the same period.
Liverpool's Near Misses and Europa League Qualification
Liverpool also faced significant near misses. In the 2013-14 season, they finished two points behind City, missing out on a Premier League title that would have ended a 24-year drought. The financial difference in prize money between first and second place that season was about £1.2 million, but the potential commercial gains from winning the league would have been far greater. Liverpool also lost the 2016 League Cup final to City on penalties. Had they won, they would have secured a Europa League spot, as Everton, who lost to City in the semi-finals, did not qualify for Europe that season.
In the 2010-11 season, Liverpool finished sixth, missing out on European football. Without City's presence, they would likely have qualified for the Europa League.
Arsenal's Champions League Streak
Arsenal's streak of 20 consecutive Champions League qualifications was broken at the end of the 2016-17 season when they finished fifth, one point behind Liverpool and three behind third-placed City. This resulted in a loss of approximately £2 million in league position prize money and the loss of Champions League revenue. The following season, Arsenal reached the Europa League semi-finals, earning £33.5 million, while City's Champions League quarter-final run yielded £54.6 million.
Everton and Other Clubs
Everton also saw potential Europa League and Champions League qualifications slip away. They finished fifth in 2013-14, securing Europa League football instead of the Champions League, a difference of approximately £5 million. The season prior, they finished sixth and missed out on European competition entirely. In 2009-10 and 2011-12, they were positioned to qualify for the Europa League in seasons where other circumstances (Portsmouth's license refusal and Chelsea winning the Champions League from sixth place, respectively) meant England's Europa League spots were filled differently.
Chelsea, too, finished fifth in 2017-18, missing out on a top-four spot, although they went on to win the Europa League the following season, earning £41 million.
Sunderland and Stoke City also have potential grievances. Sunderland lost to City in the 2014 League Cup final, potentially missing out on a Europa League place that could have been worth around £5 million. Stoke lost the 2011 FA Cup final to City, missing out on nearly £1 million in prize money, though they still qualified for the Europa League as City were in the Champions League.