Head of the Independent Football Regulator David Kogan has shared his thoughts on when the outcome of Manchester City’s case is expected to be announced.
Man City have filed a comprehensive appeal against the independent panel's guilty verdict.More Videos
In accordance with the release of findings from an independent commission, the Premier League announced in September that City had been found guilty on the majority of their initial 115 charges, issued to the club in February 2023.
The independent commission’s verdict claims that Manchester City have breached the Premier League’s financial rules while also being charged with failure to cooperate with the English top-flight's long-running investigation.
The charges against City include 54 breaches of failure to provide accurate financial information from 2009/10 to 2017/18, 14 breaches of failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009/10 to 2017/18, five breaches of failure to comply with UEFA's rules, including Financial Fair Play (FFP), from 2013/14 to 2017/18, seven counts of breaching Premier League's PSR rules from 2015/16 to 2017/18 and 35 breaches of failure to co-operate with the league’s investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.
Following the publication, Manchester City released an official statement that the club have lodged a ‘comprehensive appeal’ against the verdict on October 1, mentioning that they have ‘irrefutable evidence’ in support of their argument relating to this case.
"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case,” read the club's statement.
I think we’ll know in the early part of next year: Kogan
While City are maintaining a firm stance of denying any wrongdoing amid their ongoing appeal, Independent Football Regulator chief David Kogan believes that its outcome is expected to be revealed in the early half of the upcoming year.
Kogan provided insight into the expected timeline of the “prescribed process,” mentioning that the Premier League intend to resolve the case within this season.
In an appearance on Times Radio, Kogan said: “The Premier League have said that they want to get this resolved within season and actually, of course, it’s not the Premier League, it’s an independent commission that’s going to hear this, made of three retired either judges or lawyers," as quoted by talkSPORT.
“My understanding is there is a prescribed process, which is 12 weeks, and so people are assuming this will actually be heard by the middle or the end of January [2027].
"But as I say, it’s not our process, it’s that of the Premier League’s independent commission. What I don’t think we can do is take any judgment until we’re quite clear.
“Obviously, City claim that they have some form of silver bullet to put off these charges and win the appeal, and we’re not there to judge whether that’s right or wrong yet, but I think we’ll know in the early part of next year."
What’s next for Man City on and off the pitch?
While it appears that the ruling on Manchester City’s appeal will not be determined by the end of this year, the English club could face several sanctions if their claims are proven to be false.
These sanctions could include removal of all titles City have won during that period, hefty financial penalties and points deductions.Reports have also suggested that Enzo Maresca’s side could face relegation or even expulsion from the English football pyramid.
As for the ongoing season, Manchester City rank on top of the Premier League table with 18 points in six matches, and are currently maintaining a three-point gap from defending champions Arsenal.
Following their 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, City are pitted against Ipswich Town next in the top flight at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, October 17.
Manchester City faced a 4-2 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in their second Champions League match of the season on October 14. They will host Super League Greece club AEK Athens next in the competition on October 20.