The Premier League’s 115 charges against Manchester City for alleged breaches of financial rules are set to be heard starting on Monday. City were charged and referred to an independent commission back in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. City have strongly denied all charges and have said their case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.
The Premier League claim City breached rules that required the club to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”. This information covered club revenue, including sponsorship income and operating costs. The club has also been accused of not cooperating with the investigation. City had initially described the allegations as “entirely false” and that the accusations had been published out of context from hacked emails.
The hearing is expected to last approximately 10 weeks into late November. It has also been reported there will not be an immediate verdict after the hearing is concluded. It is unclear when a decision will be made, but it is speculated that this could be “early in 2025”. While either side could appeal, a fresh hearing, with a new independent panel arranged, is more likely.
City’s legal team is being led by Lord Pannick KC, who is known to charge £5,000 an hour for his services. Pannick helped City overturn a two-year European ban in 2020 and has also advised former Prime Minister Boris Johnston. While it is unknown who is on the independent panel that will hear the case, some reports suggest that sports law expert Adam Lewis KC is expected to lead the Premier League’s legal team. As the hearing is not a court case, it is being held in private and the location is unknown. Some parts of the hearing may even be conducted remotely via video calls.
The case could result in significant legal fees, with costs for both sides estimated at tens of millions of pounds before the hearing has even begun. Whichever side comes out on top could make a claim for these costs, which would then have to be spread across all 20 clubs in the Premier League
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