England manager Thomas Tuchel has refused to rule out selecting Manchester City players for the national team even if the club is relegated from the Premier League as punishment for its financial breaches.
Tuchel addressed the issue during his pre-match press conference ahead of England’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, with City’s legal battle now dominating discussion around several members of his squad.
Manchester City have been found guilty by an independent commission of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations covering the period from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The commission also upheld most of the allegations concerning the club’s failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
The case dates back to February 2023, when the Premier League referred 115 alleged breaches against City to an independent commission. The allegations included misleading financial reporting, the alleged use of sham commercial arrangements, breaches of spending regulations and failures to provide accurate information to investigators.
The commission found that City had used arrangements with commercial partners that artificially inflated revenues and reduced costs, while the club’s accounts allegedly failed to present an accurate picture of its financial position.
The commission’s findings covered nine seasons and included allegations involving more than £900 million in revenue and cost adjustments.
City have consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that they possess evidence supporting their position. Following the verdict, the club described the commission’s opinion as flawed and said it would challenge the findings through the appropriate legal process.
That appeal has now been lodged. The Premier League confirmed on Friday that City had formally appealed the independent commission’s decision, with the appeal to be heard privately by an independent Appeal Board. No punishment has yet been determined.
Tuchel Leaves Door Open For Lower-league Selections
With relegation among the potential sporting consequences being discussed, Tuchel was asked whether he would continue selecting City players should they no longer be playing in England’s top division.
The England boss made it clear that Premier League status would not automatically determine a player’s international eligibility.
“There is always a possibility. I would always try to pick the best team for the camp, occasion, the tournament.”
“I will never rule out that because they don’t play in the top flight in their country. We need to look at it case by case.”
Thomas Tuchel, England manager
Tuchel’s position means a potential relegation would not, in itself, prevent City players from remaining part of his England plans. His selection policy would instead continue to focus on individual performances, suitability and the needs of the national team.
The comments are particularly relevant given the number of England players connected with City. The squad currently includes players such as Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson, while Nico O’Reilly is also part of the wider England group.
Tuchel had previously described the City case as a “big topic” but stressed that England’s immediate focus remained on international football.
He has also pointed to the growing number of England players performing outside the Premier League, including Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, as evidence that top-flight status in England is not the only consideration when selecting his team.
City Appeal Leaves Punishment Unresolved
The next stage of the City case will determine whether the commission’s findings stand after the appeal and, subsequently, what sanctions may be imposed.
Possible penalties include a fine, points deduction, suspension or expulsion from the Premier League.
Relegation could result if a sufficiently severe points deduction is imposed, while expulsion would create a separate question over where City would re-enter the English football pyramid.
For now, however, City remain a Premier League club and the legal process is ongoing. The appeal is expected to be conducted confidentially, meaning further details may remain unavailable until publication of the outcome.
The significance of Tuchel’s comments therefore extends beyond the immediate Croatia fixture.
Should Manchester City ultimately face a sporting punishment that takes them outside the Premier League, the England manager has already indicated that their players would not automatically be excluded from international consideration.
READ ALSO: South Africa Machinery Imports Flip Ghana’s Africa Trade
