Hearing of Man City for 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules has concluded
The hearing of Man City for the club’s 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules has concluded as Mail Sport revealed that the reigning English champions can be hit with penalties and relegation.
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Mail Sport exclusively revealed that the closing arguments were made on Friday, and if they were proven guilty, Pep Guardiola’s side could face the severe punishment of relegation.
The hearing into the Premier League’s 115 breaches against Manchester City has concluded.
The four-in-a-row English elite league champions are accused of failing to report accurate financial information for nine seasons stretching from 2009-10 to 2017-18 and of failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13.
They are also alleged to have failed to provide full details of monies paid to players between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and to have failed to cooperate with the probe from 2018 to 2023.
That investigation, prompted by hacked material published in German media, has triggered astronomical legal costs for the league, which have raised concerns at a number of its clubs. News that the hearing is finally over will come as a relief to many, regardless of the final result.
Adam Lewis KC is the competition’s senior barrister, and Lord Pannick leads City’s defense. Both are from Blackstone Chambers.
According to Mail Sport, the closing arguments in a case with huge ramifications for English football were completed on Friday. A three-man panel is now considering evidence before delivering a verdict in the coming months, and this will feel like forever for some people, especially Pep and the players.
Proceedings began on September 16 at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre and have been shrouded in secrecy. However, following a brief pause, both sides delivered their final shots in a high-stakes battle last week.
The Premier League has accused its champions of multiple financial rule breaches and failing to co-operate with a subsequent investigation.
Should City, which strongly refutes any wrongdoing, be found guilty of some of the more serious charges, it could be hit with huge financial penalties, points deductions, or even relegation.
However, as Mail Sport previously reported, it is highly likely that – should an agreement not be reached – each side would launch an appeal against the forthcoming verdict. Should that be the case, a final decision may not be delivered until the end of next season, with damaging limbo continuing.
The city’s alleged rule-breaking is claimed to have taken place over a 14-year period. After an administration issue, the original 115 charges have been extended to 130.