Man City 115-charges verdict has finally arrived – now lawmakers must decide sanctions that could change English football forever

Of even greater concern to City, though, are the potential legal and financial ramifications.

Manchester United, who have thrice finished second to City during the past 18 years, are already reportedly assessing the economic impact of City’s breaches on their own earnings, and it would be a surprise if Liverpool (also three-time runners-up) and Arsenal (two ‘lost’ titles) are not doing likewise.

It doesn’t end there, though, as City also repeatedly denied other clubs top-four finishes that would have secured qualification for the Champions League – and the lucrative prize money that comes with it. The possible cost of compensation is impossible to calculate at this early stage – just like the potentially irreparable damage done to the Premier League’s integrity, given, if the guilty verdict sticks, the biggest case of fraud in football history threatens to expose the past 18 years of the Premier League as a lie.

Here’s what we do know for sure, though: City’s reputation will be in ruins. Their memories and titles have not yet been erased, and maybe they never will be. At the very least, though, subject to what is likely to be a lengthy appeals process, every accolade could now have an asterisk beside it and, in the eyes of most neutral observers, every triumph would be rendered utterly meaningless. Like Florence Griffith Joyner’s sprint records. Or Lance Armstrong’s seven Tour de France wins.

And why? Because, unlike ‘The Damned United’, City, who, it should be pointed out, continue to deny all wrongdoing, might just have won all their medals against a backdrop of cheating.