Man City faces 115 charges with a Premier League hearing starting on Monday, possibly lasting up to two months

The much-anticipated hearing by the Premier League into the 115 alleged charges against Manchester City is set to commence on Monday. These charges revolve around the club’s alleged breaches of financial fair play rules over a nine-year period, spanning from 2009 to 2018. Throughout this duration, Manchester City, despite refuting all allegations, clinched the Premier League title three times.

The Premier League contends that City violated the rules across nine seasons by purportedly failing to furnish accurate financial information. Significant among the charges is the claim that the club concealed the true financial compensations paid to one of their managers over four years, hinting at the existence of a clandestine agreement resulting in an undisclosed increase in the manager’s earnings. Furthermore, the Premier League accuses City of non-compliance with UEFA’s financial fair play regulations over a five-year span, in addition to lack of full cooperation with the league’s investigation.

In accordance with Premier League regulations, potential consequences for such violations could include a deduction of points or the extreme measure of expulsion from the league. It is anticipated that the independent commission’s decision will not be made public until spring, with potential delays due to the legal process being independent of influence from either the league or City.

The formal hearing with the independent commission is projected to extend over a period of up to two months, during which both the Premier League and Manchester City will present extensive legal representations outlining their respective cases. Following this, the independent commission will deliberate on all evidence before reaching a decision, a process expected to take several months given the numerous charges and information to be assessed.

Hence, it may not be until March or later that the commission’s decision is disclosed. Even if the commission deems City guilty of some or all charges, it is likely that the club would appeal the decision, further prolonging the implementation of any sanctions or points deductions. The implications of this hearing are far-reaching, not only for Manchester City and the Premier League but also for the credibility of financial fair play regulations and the overall integrity of the league.