Adelaide City is expected to be stripped of its 2017 premiership, docked 54 points, fined $42,000 and will start the 2019 season six points behind the NPL pack.

In a worst-case scenario the club was threatened with expulsion from all competitions or relegation of its men’s team to the state league but its NPL status is set to be preserved.

Football Federation SA is tipped to announce its sanctions on Thursday.

City is expected to be heavily penalised for an error in one its players professional contracts.

The player has since left the club.

It's understood FFSA wants to to dock the club 30 points from the 2017 season and 18 points from the 2018 season.

media_camera South Australian politician Frank Pangallo.

City will start the new 2019 NPL season, six points in arrears with two more seasons of six points suspended.

FFSA is expected to hand down the sanctions before going on a Christmas break despite pleas from Upper House MP Frank Pangallo to take its time.

Pangallo confirmed he spoke with FFSA chief executive Michael Carter on Tuesday for discussions.

Pangallo also wrote a letter to the FFSA board.

He asked if all NPL clubs also presented their players contracts status for FFSA review after The Advertiser posed the question to Carter among a list of others on Saturday.

FFSA issued City a disciplinary hearing notice on December 5 before a meeting at the Hindmarsh Stadium FFSA offices was held last Thursday.

media_camera Adelaide City's NPL squad celebrating its 2017 premiership win at Adelaide City Park.

City officials are furious details of the disciplinary hearing was according to sources leaked to a high-ranking official of another NPL club who told Adelaide City officials before FFSA issued the notice.

It's understood second-placed Metrostars is tipped to be declared the new 2017 premier given City will lose its premiership flag status because of the sanctions.

The $42,000 fine is believed to be the biggest in SA soccer's history after City officials in good faith initiated the process when it sought clarification over contracts status after two players wanted to leave the club.

The players in question approached Professional Footballers Australia — the players union — asking for assistance.

City did not breach the $150,000 salary cap or the player points system.

City is also believed to owe players less than $2400.

Carter has been contacted for comment.

Adelaide City officials have been requested not to comment by FFSA.

Clarification

In December last year and January this year, The Advertiser published articles about sanctions imposed upon Adelaide City Football Club by Football Federation SA.

These sanctions were for several contract breaches, related to agreements outside what the national registration rules and FFSA's regulations allowed. They were not for “incorrect wording” or “voluntarily asking for contract clarification”.

The penalty of $42,500 comprised a total of $10,000 in fines and another $32,500, which was a repayment of prize money.