The Premier League has reached its verdict on Manchester City after the defending Premier League champion was hit with 115 charges for alleged financial breaches
Manchester City has been handed a verdict on its 115 charges
Manchester City has been handed a verdict on its 115 charges(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City has reportedly been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges relating to Premier League financial regulation breaches.
The defending English champion was hit with the charges back in February 2023, with clubs across the league — including Liverpool — waiting ever since to learn of their fate. A hearing began at London's International Dispute Resolution Centre back in September before being concluded in December.
City was charged for allegedly breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, with the period in question coming between 2009 and 2018. Among the 115 charges was allegedly failing to provide accurate financial information for nine seasons, failing to provide full details of players’ wages for six seasons, and failing to cooperate with the four-year investigation.
City has denied the charges throughout the process, and although a verdict has now been reached, a final resolution could be delayed further by appeals.
Also, the punishment for the Etihad side has not yet been decided, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023," a City spokesperson told the outlet.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial, and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
In the 2023 statement that the City spokesperson referred to, the club said it was "surprised" by the charges but "welcomed" the investigation being conducted by an independent commission.
Even though the verdict has been reached, Liverpool faces a further wait to learn whether any Premier League titles will be retroactively added to the Anfield trophy cabinet following the investigation.
Different sanctions could be used to punish City, ranging from a reprimand to fines and points deductions, to Premier League expulsion.
City could be stripped of the titles it won between 2009 and 2018 if it's hit with a points deduction for past seasons.
Notably, Liverpool finished as runners-up behind the Manchester outfit in 2013/14, 2018/19, and 2021/22.
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