Manchester City are currently in the midst of a legal battle with the Premier League regarding alleged financial breaches but a final decision is not expected to arrive any time soon
Manchester City’s long-running legal battle with the Premier League could run into NEXT SEASON after being hit with a delay.
The reigning champions are currently in the midst of a battle with division chiefs. They are facing a total of 130 separate charges, which were confirmed in February 2023.
They revolve around alleged breaches of the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules. An independent commission launched a hearing in September and that was expected to last between 10-12 weeks.
But it appears there will be a significant delay which could see the case roll on into the 2024/25 season. According to The Sun, the case has been put on pause before final arguments can be made by lawyers.
Those closing arguments will start next month and could potentially last a fortnight. Legal experts anticipate that the independent commission might need a matter of months to weigh up the evidence presented by both sides.
Any final verdict is expected to come with written reasons amounting to around 400 pages. And if any charges are upheld by the commission, there will also be a second part to the hearing to discuss sentencing options.
Meanwhile, any appeal from City’s side could well extend the process even more – meaning that a final verdict might not be known until well into next season. Speaking earlier this year, City boss Pep Guardiola claimed he was anxious for the final verdict.
“It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon,” the Spaniard said in a press conference in September. “An independent panel will decide.
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“I’m looking forward to the decision. I’m happy it starts on Monday and I know there will be more rumours about the sentences that come up and we’re going to see.”
Asked if City’s stars had discussed the charges, he replied: “No. We’re not lawyers. Erling [Haaland] is not a lawyer, no. We didn’t talk about that. What’s going to happen, the independent panel, and we’re going to accept the sentence.
“I’m happy it’s starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumours, new specialists about the sentences. We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I read for many years. Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”
Away from their financial charges, City have already been dealt out a major blow by the Premier League. Changes to the associated party transaction rules were approved despite a challenge from the Etihad. Changes were pushed through after a vote of 16-4 earlier this month.
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