Man City
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
Stefan Borson
Sun 9 March 2025 12:22, UK
Manchester City are still waiting to hear the verdict in their legal battle with the Premier League after being handed 115 charges more than two years ago.
An independent commission hearing into the case started in September last year and ended in December, with the panel now considering its verdict.
The Premier League champions are accused of breaching the financial fair play (FFP) rules over a nine-year period and concealing payments through third parties by disguising them as sponsorship revenue.
The Lawyer reported on 16 September any submissions over sanctions will take place following a finding on liability, with the Financial Times confirming that news on 3 March.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the Premier League has likely briefed the publications on the legal process if the club are found guilty.
The Manchester giants’ lawyers are expected to appeal against any potential punishment after the club have been adamant they haven’t done anything wrong since the charges were handed out in February 2023.
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Football Insider revealed on 28 November the final verdict in Man City’s 115 charges case is unlikely to be delivered until the final few weeks of this season.
Man City could make new submissions after ‘serious’ breaches
Borson revealed there could be a two-week long process for both parties to make submissions if Man City are found guilty of “serious” breaches.
He told Football Insider: “The submissions over sanctions point was detailed in a previous article in The Lawyer, which is an industry publication for the legal profession in the UK.
“They have had very good information so far about the case in terms of the details of who’s acting for who and the actual fact that it had started was an exclusive from them.
“The piece in the FT seems to confirm it, and I doubt that it was just a case of them reading The Lawyer piece.
“I suspect that they were briefed out by the Premier League as part of the overall process of that interview, so I think we can probably take it now as confirmed that that’s the way the process will work.
“What that means is that you will have an elongated process if City are found to be liable for any of the breaches because what is then going to happen is you will have a pause where the parties digest the liability decision, which is going to be very long and detailed and they will then both want to make their representations and formal submissions in a hearing in front of the panel in respect to the sanction.
“Now clearly, if that’s only about cooperation, I would think that that sanction hearing would be quite short, maybe even in writing as opposed to in person. But if it is for the more serious breaches, then you can expect the sanction hearing to be very lengthy.
“It could easily be a couple of weeks for that hearing, such is the seriousness of the matter and the submissions of the parties, both in terms of aggravating factors and mitigation if there is any mitigation.
“We will just have to wait and see, but it will likely drag the process out.”
Position Team GP Pts GD
1 Liverpool 29 70 +42
2 Arsenal 27 54 +28
3 Nottingham Forest 28 51 +12
4 Man City 28 47 +15
5 Chelsea 27 46 +16
6 Brighton 28 46 +6
7 Aston Villa 29 45 -4
8 Newcastle 27 44 +8
Premier League table (as of 08/03/2025)
Ederson could agree Man City summer exit after Saudi interest
In terms of matters on the pitch, Football Insider revealed on 3 March Man City star Ederson could leave the Etihad and join a Saudi Pro League club this summer.
Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad have entered the race for the goalkeeper’s signature as speculation continues around his future.
The 31-year-old has made 29 appearances across all competitions this season, but his contract is set to expire in June 2026.
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