According to ESPN, Manchester City’s trial for allegedly breaking the Premier League’s financial rules is scheduled to start on September 16. The hearing is expected to last about two months, with a verdict likely not to be made public until at least spring 2025. City is facing allegations of financial misconduct over a nine-year period starting from 2009, with possible consequences such as relegation, points deductions, and fines if found guilty. Initially, there were suggestions that the trial would be later in the year, but both Manchester City and the Premier League pushed to have it sooner, resulting in the upcoming mid-September date. Mail Sport has detailed the 115 charges that Pep Guardiola’s team is up against in this unprecedented trial that could potentially see the reigning Premier League champions dropped to the Championship.
Manchester City is currently dealing with 115 counts of violating FFP rules and regulations.
City has been under scrutiny for their actions between 2019 and 2023, resulting in them being required to pay a fine of £8.6m due to the discoveries made during the investigation.
According to reports, the trial for Manchester City’s 115 charges of breaking FFP rules over nine years will begin on Monday, September 16. The charges date back from 2009 to 2018 and were disclosed in a Premier League statement in February 2023.
The seriousness of the charges means that Manchester City could face significant consequences if found guilty. An independent commission will investigate and analyze the charges brought against the club, which include allegations of not providing accurate financial information from 2009 to 2018.
All Premier League clubs are expected to adhere to a code of compliance, ensuring they maintain transparent and up-to-date financial records that are subject to annual audits. City has been under scrutiny for allegedly inflating sponsorship values linked to their owners and not accurately reporting player and manager compensation.
In addition, they are accused of failing to comply with Premier League investigations since December 2018. The initial report of Manchester City’s 115 charges was revealed by Der Spiegel, a German news outlet.
The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, can be seen in the photo standing next to the club’s owners, Sheikh Mansour on the right.
Allegations involve dishonesty regarding the compensation provided to former managers and players once they left the team.
Manchester City’s 115 charges are not expected to be resolved until the Spring or Summer of 2025. The legal battle between Manchester City and the Premier League is scheduled to begin in September 2024. Due to the Premier League’s rules on FFP violations, the trial will be held privately and kept strictly confidential by an independent commission. This means that media outlets will have no information on the case until the final verdict is announced by the Premier League. Therefore, the media, along with everyone else, will only find out about the ruling at the same time. When it comes to possible punishments, there are eight options available for clubs found guilty of breaking FFP regulations. Some penalties are minor, while others could have a serious impact on the club’s future. Both Manchester City and the Premier League have the right to appeal the verdict, though the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which overturned City’s UEFA ban in 2020, is not an option for appeal in this situation.
Richard Masters, who is the Managing Director of the Premier League, has played a key role in the situation.
City could be subject to one of eight potential sanctions if they are found to have violated any of FFP’s regulations.
Guardiola was seen with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak following their title win last season. City, who opted not to provide a statement, have refuted any allegations and have initiated legal action against the Premier League. Reportedly, the Etihad team is seeking to overturn the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations, which they argue are unjust. These regulations, implemented in December 2021, aim to maintain fairness by preventing top clubs from artificially inflating business agreements with companies connected to their owners. In a lengthy 165-page legal filing, City contends that the regulations were approved by competitors to hinder their success on the field, labeling it as a ‘tyranny of the majority’. The club has accused rivals of showing bias against Gulf ownership, notably following Newcastle United’s acquisition by Saudi ownership. Opposing clubs argue that City’s challenge could undermine the competitiveness of the English top division, allowing wealthy teams to excessively invest in their squads and infrastructure. Success in their case could enable the wealthiest clubs in the league to assess sponsorship deals without external scrutiny.
