The hearing into Manchester City‘s 115 charges for alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations began on Monday.
The charges, brought after a four-year investigation and referred to an independent commission in February 2023, claim City violated financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
Manchester City strongly denied the allegations, stating their defence is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence.”
The Premier League alleges City failed to provide “accurate financial information” that would reflect the club’s true financial state, including revenue, sponsorship income, and operating costs. Additionally, City is accused of not cooperating with the investigation.
At the outset of the inquiry, City dismissed the claims as “entirely false” and asserted that they stemmed from “illegal hacking and the out-of-context publication of City emails,” first reported by German newspaper Der Spiegel.
Since their 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, Manchester City have achieved significant success, winning eight league titles, numerous domestic cups, and the Champions League.
The private hearing, expected to last around 10 weeks, is taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London.
What are the 115 charges?
- 54 counts: Failing to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
- 14 counts: Failing to give accurate details regarding player and manager payments during the same period.
- 5 counts: Non-compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules from 2013-14 to 2017-18.
- 7 counts: Breaching Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
- 35 counts: Failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.
While the initial number of charges was listed as 115, The Times later reported that the actual total is 130 due to a clarification error by the Premier League. These are not additional charges but a correction in how the charges were originally listed by season.
How long will the case last?
The hearing is expected to continue for around 10 weeks, extending into late November, according to media reports.
City manager Pep Guardiola expressed relief at the start of the hearing, saying, “It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon… Everybody is innocent until proven guilty. So we’ll see.”
When will there be a verdict?
A verdict is not expected immediately after the hearing concludes. Reports suggest a decision will likely come in early 2025.
Can there be an appeal?
This case cannot be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but either side could appeal, leading to a new hearing with a different independent panel.
What about legal costs?
This case has been ongoing for six years, with legal fees already estimated to be in the tens of millions of pounds on both sides. Whichever party wins is expected to file a claim for legal costs.
In a recent case involving Everton, the Premier League sought £4.9 million in legal costs following their six-point deduction. The appeal board ultimately ruled that Everton would pay £1.7 million, with the remaining £3.2 million covered by the Premier League. If the Premier League incurs costs in the Manchester City case, those expenses could be shared among the 20 clubs in the league.
