Premier League clubs are ready to take legal action if Man City are found guilty of financial breaches with potential punishments looming
Comments
Sport
A general view inside the Etihad Stadium
Man City face 115 charges over alleged financial rule breaches, which they deny
Premier League clubs' lawyers will be ready to pounce if Manchester City are found guilty of 115-plus financial breaches, it has been claimed.
City have been charged with breaking Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. They've also been accused of failing to cooperate with the investigation into their finances, with the detailed rule breaches adding up to 115 in total. The club vehemently deny any wrongdoing.
The three-month trial in which Man City fought to prove their innocence ended in December. Despite now being in April, there is still no indication as to when we can expect a conclusion. Former financial advisor to the Premier League champions Stefan Borson hinted on Tueday, April 1, that clubs could be waiting until 2026 for a final verdict.
READ MORE: Erling Haaland's three-word update speaks volumes amid Golden Boot race with Liverpool's Mo SalahREAD MORE: Mohamed Salah contract - Two-year 'deal', Arne Slot verdict, honest Liverpool admission
If Man City are to be found guilty, it could open the doors to a plethora of other problems according to one expert. Possible punishments include hefty fines, points deductions and even the removal of honours won during the period in question. Alongside this, other Premier League clubs will be looking for something in return too.
"I think there will be an awful lot of clubs taking legal counsel, with a view to, 'Do we think we have a good case from a legal probability point of view?'" football finance expert Kieran Maguire told The Overlap.
"We do have precedent so therefore going forwards I suspect there will be an awful lot of out of court settlements because it is a lot cheaper than doing it and try and get some mediation and negotiation, but the lawyers will be rubbing their hands together if Manchester City lose."
Within the nine-year period in question, from 2009 to 2018, Liverpool finished runners up to Man City twice in the Premier League, including the 2018/19 season. Liverpool also lost the League Cup final in 2016 to City.