The hearing into the Premier League’s charges against Manchester City begins on Monday in a landmark case that could have a seismic impact on English football.
An independent commission will examine over 100 charges of alleged financial impropriety by the country’s dominant club spanning more than a decade.
Some of the sharpest legal minds in the world will go head to head in the highly secretive process over the next few months.
Below we outline the key details of the case: how the charges came about, how long the hearing will go on for and what the outcomes could be.
How did the charges against Man City come about?
The Premier League opened an investigation into City way back in 2018 following the Football Leaks saga in which a lot of the allegations against the club first came to light.
After a number of legal delays, charges were finally laid in February 2023 and the club were referred to an independent commission.
The charges against City relate to the requirement to accurately report financial information, including around the value of sponsorship deals, the submission of details of manager and player pay information and to a club’s responsibility as a Premier League member to adhere to Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and to the league’s own Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
City are also accused of failing to cooperate with the league’s investigation. In all, there are charges relating to every season between 2009-10 and 2022-23.
What have City said?
The club issued a statement strenuously denying the allegations on the day the charges were brought, saying they welcomed the opportunity for an independent commission “to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of our position”.
The club added: “As such, we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
Why is the case so significant?
So much is at stake. City, the winners of the Premier League in each of the last four seasons, face a huge points deduction or even expulsion from the league if found guilty of the serial cheating they are accused of. The future of manager Pep Guardiola as well as City’s squad of some of the world’s best players would also come into question.
A guilty verdict for City could also prompt a slew of compensation claims from other Premier League clubs and even potentially affect diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, where City owner Sheikh Mansour is a deputy prime minister.
If City’s position is vindicated, on the other hand, it will lead to serious questions about the Premier League’s ability to effectively govern its clubs and enforce financial regulations, at a time when football is set to become subject to independent regulation. It could also lead to pressure for the league’s senior board members to resign.
How long will all this take?
The hearing is widely reported to be scheduled for 10 weeks, with the commission’s outcome to follow early next year.
However, some legal experts believe the outcome may not be decided this season.
“The sheer volume of evidence that’s got to be considered is mind-boggling,” says one sports lawyer, who asked to remain anonymous.
“It’s 115 different charges. Which is why you have some of the world’s largest law firms involved. They’ll have an army of lawyers working on this one case. I dread to think the cost to both parties in engaging those lawyers. It’s going to be a huge bill at the end of the day.”
In the likely event of an appeal, the case could be dragged out even longer.
What could the outcome be?
Legal experts that i have spoken to say there are three possible outcomes: a Premier League victory, a Manchester City victory or somewhere inbetween.
Should the Premier League win, then most experts believe City will be kicked out of the league and could even have to start again in League Two. Total exoneration for City, on the other hand, would be disastrous for the Premier League, although this remains unlikely.
The third possible outcome is that City are only found guilty of some of the charges. That would be likely to end in the case being settled with a fine rather than a points deduction or the club being expelled from the league.
Given the huge legal and reputational costs at stake, experts believe an appeal is almost certain.
“I think whatever the outcome it will be appealed,” one lawyer at a leading firm, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
“I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t one. I can’t see a world where the panel comes to a decision that’s accepted by both parties, considering the amount that’s been invested.”
Additional reporting by Press Association
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