Australian Gambling – Manchester City is undoubtedly still celebrating its second English Premier League title in three seasons, but don’t be too quick to put your money on City to go back-to-back next season.

City sealed the title with a 2-0 win over West Ham at Etihad Stadium on the final day of the EPL season with Liverpool scoring a 2-1 win over a nine-man Newcastle United to lock-in second place and direct entry to the UEFA Champions League next season.

French midfielder Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany scored the goals for City with joyous supporters sprawling onto the field at the final whistle.

But, while everyone in the EPL toasts City and manager Manuel Pellegrini, UEFA’s investigatory body is reported to be close to issuing a severe penalty against the club for breaking UEFA’s financial fair play rules, which penalises clubs for building up high debts.

The Guardian and other outlets reported City would face a 49-million pound fine, be forced to cap their wages at this season’s tally and have a 21-play limit to their UEFA Champions League squad for next season.

It has been reported that City was considering challenging the penalties and facing off with Europe’s governing body.

But, if UEFA gets its way and City enter next season with a cap on its salaries and a restriction on its Champions League squad, then their title hopes will fade slightly.

This is because Pellegrini used his depth so well this season, keeping key players fresh for European and EPL matches, something which showed as Liverpool’s smaller squad battled to replace injured or suspended players in the final weeks of the season.