An update has emerged on Manchester City's 115 charges being announced in the same week that reports suggested that Pep Guardiola would be leaving the club.
GMS understands that an agreement is in place for Enzo Maresca to replace Pep Guardiola as the new manager of Manchester City, with it being widely reported that Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season.
This happens as Manchester City are still awaiting the verdict on their 115 charges, which they were hit with over three years ago for breaching financial fair play rules.
The case has been lingering over City since 2023, with many in the footballing world growing frustrated over the lack of an announcement.
An independent hearing started back in September 2024 and ended in December 2024, but the panel are still considering the verdict.
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According to former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson, it shouldn't be too long until we hear the verdict.
Borson claims that he heard some information that points to it coming to a close in terms of the drafting of the decision.
“It’s famous last words, but it can’t take much longer.
“As I understand it, there are no special reasons why it’s not come out. Nobody’s ill, nobody’s negotiating behind the scenes. There’s no secret sort of plans from government to intervene or any of that stuff.
“It’s all actually very vanilla. The original panel just simply hasn’t finished writing it up or hadn’t as of a few weeks ago.
“I did hear some information from the legal circuit that would point to it coming to a close in terms of the drafting of the decision."
Borson also claims that the parties themselves expect the verdict to come out soon after the season ends.
“The parties themselves do expect that it will come out soon after the season ends, but they’ve been wrong before.
“My analysis, which has always been based upon the information that’s been out in the market, has obviously been wrong as well because it didn’t arrive.
“But clearly, every day that goes by makes it more likely that it’s coming out just because it simply can’t take very much longer to write up something in a private arbitration, notwithstanding the complexity.”
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Sports lawyer Tom Murray has also given some insight into the case after speaking to some barristers involved in the situation.
Murray suggests that even the barristers don't know when the decision will be released.
"I don't think anyone knows [the time frame for a verdict]. I've spoken to barristers working on the case, and even they don't know when the decision will be released. As much as I would like to speculate, I think it would be pointless."
Murray also adds that he does believe that Man City are going to be found liable and in breach of something, considering the number of charges that are against them.
"What do I think the outcome is going to be? I think Manchester City are going to be found liable, in breach of something. With the number of charges there are, I don't think they are going to get away with this."
It appears Manchester City fans are still going to have to wait for a verdict to come to fruition. It remains to be seen how serious the sanction is going to be.