The hearing into the Premier League's financial charges against Manchester City reportedly ended last week
Manchester City's legal battle with the Premier League reportedly ended last week
Manchester City's legal battle with the Premier League reportedly ended last week
The hearing into the Premier League's 115 charges against Manchester City has reportedly ended - with both sides delivering closing arguments for the case last week in London. The Etihad outfit are accused of breaching the Premier League's financial rules on more than 115 occasions in a nine-year period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The hearing in front of a three-man independent panel began at London's International Dispute Resolution Centre on September 16. However, Mail Sport has revealed that the hearing concluded in London on Friday, December 6, with a verdict expected in the New Year.
The Premier League charged Manchester City with over 115 financial breaches in February 2023, claiming the Etihad outfit failed to provide accurate financial information over the nine-year period. During that time, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, one of which came at Liverpool's expense as they finished two points ahead of the Reds at the end of the 2013/14 season.
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City, however, have maintained their innocence and, in February 2023, insisted it welcomed the opportunity to present a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence".
In October, the Telegraph claimed Manchester City were expecting to receive legal notices from rival Premier League clubs, which reserved the right to seek damages if the eight-time Premier League champions are found guilty.
German publication Der Spiegel first uncovered and put forward allegations of financial wrongdoing in November 2018. Therefore, as per the Limitation Act 1980, clubs across the Premier League only had until the end of last month to initiate proceedings.
If City are found guilty, it has been speculated in the national media that a potential punishment could range from a points deduction to relegation from the Premier League. It was reported by the Independent last week that although some clubs are pushing for the harshest penalty of relegation, it is extremely unlikely as the matter would have to go to a vote between all clubs and 15 would need to be in favour of demoting the champions.