The Premier League's case against Manchester City for alleged financial breaches has wrapped up, with the panel now left to deliberate their verdict. The final arguments were presented at London's International Dispute Resolution Centre on Friday, marking the end of the hearing that began on September 16.
Defending Premier League champions City stand accused of multiple Financial Fair Play rule violations and failing to cooperate with the ensuing investigation. They deny all charges and remain confident of being cleared.
However, if found guilty by the three-person panel, they could face financial penalties, a points deduction or even relegation. The Daily Mail reports that the panel have now retired to review the substantial evidence presented, with Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League awaiting the verdict.
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Their deliberations are expected to be lengthy and even once a verdict is returned, an appeal is likely to prolong the case until the end of next season. Given the sheer volume of alleged breaches and the evidence put forward by the Premier League and City's lawyers, it is anticipated that the initial verdict could take months to arrive.
The accusations span a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. Pep Guardiola has openly welcomed the investigation, hoping it will dispel the doubts cast over their recent successes. When asked back in September about whether the team had discussed the allegations, he said: "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."
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds the winner's trophy aloft after the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester City at American Express Community Stadium on May 12, 2019
Man City lifted the title in 2018/19 (Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
"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."
City's stance against the Premier League took a hit last month when changes to the associated party transaction rules were passed by a vote of 16-4. Since Sheikh Mansour's game-changing takeover in 2008, City have clinched eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups, along with the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Yet, all these accolades are now overshadowed by suspicion, a cloud that can only be lifted by clearing their name before the independent commission.