Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has hinted that a verdict on the club's 115 charges of alleged financial malpractice might land as early as February or March, possibly before the Premier League season concludes.
Back on December 6, Manchester City wrapped up their three-month legal battle with Premier League authorities in London, where they robustly denied all accusations of financial impropriety ranging from 2009 to 2018, an assertion they've staunchly upheld throughout the investigation.
Despite facing 130 charges, which vary in severity, Guardiola's squad continues to focus on their games while dealing with potential heavy sanctions that include stripping of titles, hefty fines, transfer bans, points deductions, or even the most severe consequence: relegation.
While the proceedings drew to a close recently, no clear schedule for the process has been provided as an independent committee must now meticulously evaluate each charge before reaching any conclusions. Manchester City fans have been on tenterhooks, but Guardiola, closer to the situation than anyone, may have just given the clearest indication yet of when the title holders will learn their destiny.
During his pre-match press briefing ahead of the Aston Villa game, Guardiola addressed questions (reported by the Guardian) about whether uncertainty surrounding the case could deter January transfer window acquisitions, stating simply: "I don't know.
"It's going to happen in winter time. I don't know what's going to happen. I know the people are expecting that but I don't know. In February, March, [maybe] will be the sentence."
This would represent a more accelerated judgement than what was initially assumed, as earlier conversations prior to the start of the trial indicated that a verdict might not be reached until the 2024/25 Premier League season had concluded. Regardless of the verdict, reports suggest that the defeated party is likely to appeal, potentially prolonging the case even more.
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