ALARM BELLS WILL BE RINGING AS PROBLEMS MOUNT FOR PEP

THE consequences of Manchester City's alleged breaches of the Premier League's Financial Fair Play regulations could, in time, be seismic.

- Dan Kilpatrick

The Premier League announced yesterday that City had allegedly breached more than 100 rules following a four-year investigation and they are now facing the threat of potentially huge sanctions, including relegation.

While other top-flight clubs are said to want an outcome before the end of the campaign, any Arsenal fans, for example, expecting a speedy resolution and perhaps an immediate points reduction are set to be disappointed.

The process could drag on beyond the summer, with both sides able to appeal the final outcome. That said, Premier League rules mean City cannot take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), as they did when they were banned from the Champions League for two years by UEFA for breaching their FFP rules.

Short-term, yesterday's news only adds to the sense of unease around City's season and should be welcomed by their immediate rivals, many of whom will, presumably, be hoping for the severest possible punishment.