Broadcasters will not demand compensation from the Premier League – even if they throw the book at Manchester City, according to insiders.
City have been found guilty of the vast majority of a series of breaches of the competition’s financial rules over a time period in which they lifted three titles as part of an eight-trophy haul.
The situation has raised the prospect that those who paid billions to screen that glittering era in the club’s history could now seek effective refunds, given there would be clear question marks over the integrity of what they paid vast sums to screen.
Daily Mail Sport has been told by those close to the situation, however, that such a move would be ‘highly unlikely’. At one stage, there had been discussions among broadcasters over a form of ‘discount’ tied to future rights deals, with negotiations domestically due to take place in the middle of next season. Again, such a situation is thought unlikely, with the market dictating the price.
The news may well come as a relief to top-flight clubs celebrating what appears to be a clear victory for the competition while worrying about the financial implications. It is thought that the only way that rights would drop dramatically would be if City’s punishment results in the loss of large numbers of subscribers between now and the next deal, which is also seen as unlikely.
Broadcasters will not demand compensation from the Premier League despite paying billions to screen Man City's glittering era of dominance (Pictured: Man City lifting the 2012 title)
Broadcasters will not demand compensation from the Premier League despite paying billions to screen Man City's glittering era of dominance (Pictured: Man City lifting the 2012 title)
Meanwhile, worried City staff were emailed a statement from chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak on Saturday which was also posted on the club’s website.
It is understood that few were in the club’s central offices on Friday, when the news broke. Al-Mubarak reiterated that he was confident that City would prevail.
The findings of the tribunal, which concluded in December 2024, are still to be made public.
An appeal from City’s expensively-assembled legal team is viewed as an inevitability. They have 14 days to lodge such a request which would be heard by a separate panel.
A wide range of punishments, including expulsion, are available under Premier League rules. The original panel would take arguments from both sides before deciding on a penalty it feels befits the crime.
Meanwhile, City chief executive Ferran Soriano has told a meeting of the European Football Clubs that a conclusion to the saga will take ‘a lot more time’.
Soriano was at the summit along with other bosses of top European clubs and, according to sources, was quick to address what could have been an elephant in the room.
‘It’s taken eight years to get here,’ he said, ‘and it’s going to take a lot more time’.