Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Tottenham Hotspur knew before most Premier League clubs that the independent panel had found Man City guilty of brazenly breaching the competition’s financial regulations.
The footballing world was shocked a couple of weeks ago when it emerged that Man City had been found to have breached the Premier League’s financial regulations 114 times from 2009 to 2018.
Spurs Web previously covered that Tottenham are one of four Premier League clubs who reserved their right to take Man City to court following the guilty verdict.
According to reports, Spurs, Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal wrote to Man City back in September of 2024, informing them that they were prepared to sue for the lost revenue as a result of City’s alleged cheating.
Manchester City Tottenham Premier League
Photo by SpursWeb
Tottenham signed a non-disclosure agreement to view the independent panel’s decision
Tottenham’s main claim rests on lost Champions League revenue during the relevant period, and some sources have suggested that the Lilywhites could demand as much as £200m from City if the guilty verdict is upheld.
The Telegraph have now revealed that the four clubs who reserved their right to seek compensation were notified about the independent panel’s guilty verdict before the rest of the league.
While the other 15 clubs were sent an email about the verdict on September 25, Tottenham Hotspur, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal were contacted in advance.
The executives from these clubs signed a non-disclosure agreement to view the independent panel’s verdict. The outlet reveals that these four clubs declined to comment when asked what their next step is going to be.
When will a decision be made on Man City’s appeal?
City have given notice that they will appeal the verdict, and the appeal will be heard by a newly assembled three-person commission.
The commission will have to make its final decision within 12 weeks, which means that January 21 is the deadline. City claim to have ‘a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence’ that proves they are not guilty.
For their appeal to be successful, the new commission will have to conclude that the independent panel made material errors on points of law or procedural mistakes in their initial verdict.