Manchester City has been charged by the Premier League with numerous breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation and the four-time champions in the last five seasons are in a spot of discomfort.
Pep Guardiola managed a team with full of star-studded affairs and is allegedly charged with corruption as part of their deals made in recent years while having clutter in the balance sheet and now could face severe punishment if proven.
BREAKING: Man City charged by Premier Leaue with numerous breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation.
This is unprecedented: pic.twitter.com/ZGzdX210qP— Martyn Ziegler (@martynziegler) February 6, 2023
According to Premier League rules, the authority could stripe off Man City’s championship title won within the timeframe of the allegation with further points to be deducted on the current campaign and even has the right to suspend the Cityzens from the league.
Murray Rosen KC was appointed as the chair of the Premier League’s first Judicial Panel in 2020 and now will order a verdict of this case after hearing the independent claims from both parties.
Stefan Borson, a lawyer and former financial adviser to Man City opened up about the seriousness of the incident and referred to the issue as the “strongest allegations imaginable of financial doping”.
The PL's case vs City is, for most part, not an FFP case at all. More fundamental than that. It is that the club has provided junk financials (audited and forecasts) for 9 years. That is their underlying allegation. An extraordinary thing to try and prove in an arbitration panel
— slbsn (@slbsn) February 7, 2023
“Alarmist or not, the sheer extent of the PL charges are at a level that IF found proven, must lead to relegation,” Borson tweeted.
Man City however haven’t felt the heat yet as they are confident. In an official statement, the hierarchy of City said, “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.”
“The Club welcomes a review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”- Official statement reads.
Club statement
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 6, 2023
Man City was not given advance warning of the Premier League’s statement but is ‘confident’ in their position – including those issues time-barred from UEFA – and believed to have provided this to the Premier League ‘some time ago’.
There is a feeling around the Man City camp that perhaps this is ‘a bit of political maneuvering’ on the Premier League’s side, that they can keep their own house in order.
Previously denied the opportunity, Premier League heads will give Man City the chance to launch an appeal against the charges if they wanted to. A new independent panel would be assembled for it, with evidence examined again.
In May last year, Pep Guardiola said he'd leave the club if Man City ever lied to him.
Today, they have been charged by the Premier League over breaking financial rules across nine seasons. pic.twitter.com/8UQfCBqSoC
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) February 6, 2023
Man City’s legal team noticed a significant number of the charges and the regulations they breached were incorrectly notified on the original announcement and were later altered by the Premier league.
The club claimed to have proof that some media outlets were briefed before they had even been made aware of the PL’s announcement and are certain about prevailing the case.
Urgent staff meetings were held at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon, with the word from inside Man City being that they feel their ‘whole being’ is on the line and they will throw everything at clearing their name.
How the table could look if Man City were docked 15pts, as Juventus have been this season 👀📊 pic.twitter.com/HiImv9PPJR
— LiveScore (@livescore) February 6, 2023
No timeframe has been set for an outcome of the charges brought on, but other clubs from the league want a verdict before the end of the season. However, one source said it was likely to be ‘years away’.
