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Manchester City were charged with 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations, but the club and Premier League are still awaiting a verdict
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks dejected
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are still awaiting a verdict from their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
All the latest on Manchester City's 115 charges
Verdict Delays:Manchester City and the Premier League remain in limbo as they await the final verdict on the 115 charges brought against the club for allegedly violating financial regulations from 2009 to 2018. Despite the independent hearing concluding months ago, a resolution has yet to be reached or made public.
Timeline Projections: Former football executive Christian Purslow warned that predicting a specific timetable for the decision is a "fool’s errand." He suggested that even after a ruling is made, the entire process could easily drag on for another year.
Potential for Relegation: If City are found guilty of the potential breaches, precedent suggests sporting sanctions would be the primary method of punishment. These sanctions could include major points deductions significant enough to result in the club’s relegation from the top flight.
Likelihood of Appeals: Any guilty finding is almost certain to be met with an appeal from Manchester City under Premier League appeal rules. Such an appeal process would likely push the final resolution back by an additional three to twelve months.
No Out-of-Court Settlement: Purslow strongly cautioned the Premier League against attempting to reach a private settlement or "reasonable agreement" with the club. He argued that bypassing the legal process would be a "terrible mistake" that would fail to satisfy any of the involved parties.
Allegations: While the case is widely known as the '115 charges,' the club is actually facing up to 130 potential breaches. These allegations primarily centre on financial regulation violations during a period in which they won three Premier League titles.
City’s Defence: City continue to maintain their absolute innocence and have stated they have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence." The club have welcomed the independent review as an opportunity to clear their name once and for all.
Sanctioning Uncertainty: The question of specific sanctions would most likely be 'pushed down the road' until after the liability portion of the case is fully resolved. This ensures the focus remains on the legal findings before any penalties are determined or enforced.