Independent hearing to begin into 115 alleged financial breaches of Premier League rules by Manchester City

It has been a long wait, but the independent hearing into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules will finally begin on Monday.

In what British media are calling the “sporting trial of the century”, a three-person panel will spend around 10 weeks reviewing a mountain of evidence and a verdict is expected before the end of the season.

City, who have won the Premier League title for a record four consecutive times, were referred to an independent commission in February 2023, with allegations relating to the years 2009-18. The commission has always denied any wrongdoing.

If City are found guilty of some or all of the charges, they could face penalties or huge fines, a points deduction or even relegation from the Premier League.

It would also overshadow one of the most successful periods in English club history.

Since the club was taken over by Abu Dhabi United Group under Sheikh Mansour in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, the Champions League once, the FA Cup three times, six League Cups, a UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Coach Pep Guardiola, the team’s brains since 2016, welcomed the start of the trial, saying before the weekend that City were innocent until proven guilty.

“It will start soon and then (I hope) it will end soon. An independent panel will make a decision and I can’t wait for that decision,” Guardiola told reporters.

“We’ll see. I know what people expect, what they’re expecting, I know what I’ve been reading for many, many years.

“I’m not a lawyer. (Striker) Erling (Haaland) is not a lawyer. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”

The allegations against City include failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to fully disclose player and managerial wages, breaching Premier League and UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations and failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations.

This is not the first time City has found itself in the dock for alleged financial misconduct.

In 2020, UEFA banned them from the Champions League for two years for overstating sponsorship revenues between 2012 and 2016, but the club successfully appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

City said at the time the matter was referred to the Premier League’s independent commission that it was surprised that the league “disclosed these alleged breaches”.

The hearing, which will be held behind closed doors, will begin and is likely to last for many weeks, inevitably casting a shadow over the Premier League season as City seek a fifth successive title.

Regardless of the verdict, either side can appeal, which threatens to drag the trial into early summer 2025.

Last season, Everton and Nottingham Forest had their points docked for breaking Premier League rules on profit and sustainability, but Leicester City avoided a similar fate by winning an appeal against the Premier League.

Reuters Agency