Manchester City is set to face up to 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules as the independent hearing of the matter commences on Monday after months of anticipation. The case has been referred to by the British media as the “sports trial of the century.
An independent commission consisting of three members will sit through evidences for the next ten weeks and come up with its decision before the end of the season. The reigning champions of the English premier league Manchester City were referred to an independent commission in February of 2023 due to four successive titles on the heels of the Abu Dhabi United group. They relate to the time between 2009 and 2018 although both companies deny any wrongdoing. In the course of the above process, City has always exonerated itself from any wrong doing.
Potential consequences that Manchester City may face if the charges are proven include; penalties, which may include fines and points deduction or even to be demoted and play in a lower division such as the Championship. They might have shattered the image of the club which occupies a very illustrious and successful place in the history of soccer.
Manchester City Dominance
After Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group manage to buying the club in year 2008 Manchester City has been able to win many titles. These are, top flight domestic league: eight titles, champions league, three FA Cups, six league cups, UEFA super cup, and FIFA club world cup.
Before the start of the trials, the Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola, who has been with the club since 2016, has said that he believes in the project. “It starts soon and then (hopefully) finishes soon,” Guardiola said. In other words, the decision shall be determined by an independent panel and I am eager to wait for the decision to be made. “
Topics that have been leveled against City are: misinformation of financial information, inadequate disclosures of players and managers payment, and violations of the ’football Economic Regime’ or the football Premier league as well as the UEFA financial fair play violations. The club has also been often criticized for not contributing sufficient cooperation to Premier League probes.
This is not the first time that City has faced legal problems relating to financial issues. The following years resulting in the club being barred from the Champions League by UEFA for two years because of fabricated sponsorship revenue. But, the ban was lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
During the hearing, the premier league season will go on, and City will prospectively be the champions for at least the fifth time. If either party decides to appeal the final decision made, this process is likely to stretch up to 2025.
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