‘Relegate Man City to League Two’ – Bent calls for six-year transfer ban

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Former England striker Darren Bent has called for Manchester City to be relegated to League Two and handed a six-year transfer ban if the club is found guilty of the 115 financial breaches brought against them by the Premier League.

Bent made the call while speaking on talkSPORT, arguing that only a severe punishment would provide a sufficient deterrent to other clubs.

“City should be relegated to League Two, just like Rangers, and handed a six-year transfer ban,” Bent said.

His proposed punishment would represent one of the most severe sanctions ever imposed on an English club.

Manchester City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 with 115 alleged breaches of financial rules covering the period between 2009 and 2018. The club has consistently denied wrongdoing.

The independent hearing into the case began in September 2024 and concluded earlier this year, but a verdict remains pending.

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The possible sanctions available to the Premier League could include fines, points deductions and relegation if the club is ultimately found guilty.

However, a demotion all the way to League Two, combined with a six-year transfer ban, would go far beyond the punishments normally associated with financial breaches in English football.

Bent based his comparison on Rangers, who were relegated to the bottom tier of Scottish football in 2012 after the club went into liquidation.

The former Tottenham and Sunderland striker believes Manchester City should face similarly severe consequences if the allegations against them are proven.

The controversy has continued to generate debate around the potential punishment while the legal process remains unresolved, with different possible sanctions being discussed publicly despite the absence of a verdict.

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City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has meanwhile sought to reassure supporters, insisting that the club remains confident in its position.

In a statement to City supporters, Al Mubarak said the Premier League process still had “a long way to run” and that the club’s confidence in proving its innocence remained as strong as when the case began.

He also explained that the club could not disclose more details because of the confidentiality surrounding the legal process.

“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed,” Al Mubarak said.

Manchester City remain in a waiting game, with the outcome of the Premier League case yet to be announced and the potential consequences dependent on the eventual findings.