A significant update in the case surrounding Manchester City's alleged 115 breaches of financial rules has been released.
City, who strenuously deny any wrongdoing, were charged by the Premier League with the breaches - a minority of which also relate to UEFA regulations - back in February 2023.
A private hearing into the case began in September after lengthy delays, and was expected to take around 10 weeks.
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As a result, there have been few updates on the case in recent weeks as both sides argue their positions out of the public eye.
Penalties for City if found guilty include significant fines, points deductions or even relegation, with a verdict not expected before the end of the season.
But a fresh update on the timescale for the final decision has been released.
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According to The Lawyer, there are said to have been private admissions that a verdict may not be reached by the end of the 2024/25 season, with the case potentially dragging on into the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign.
It is claimed that a judgment and possible appeal relating to the hearing, which is scheduled to be completed in mid-December, could now 'take months'.
That is because the hearing, which is taking place at a centre in London, has been paused while both City and the Premier League prepare closing arguments.
It is added that once those arguments start in early to mid-December, it could three months or more before the three-man commission reaches a verdict. Time would then be allotted for the preparation of appeals.
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The Times has cited what they describe as a 'complex' financial hearing which lasted 13 weeks last year and is yet to reach a final decision, though it is unclear what the particular parallels are with City's case.
What are the 115 charges against Manchester City?
- Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009/10 to and including 2017/18 - 54 alleged breaches
- Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations from December 2018-present [February 2023] - 35 alleged breaches
- Failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation from 2009/10 to and including 2017/18 - 14 alleged breaches
- Breaches of Premier League profitability and sustainability regulations from 2015/16 to and including 2017/18 - Seven alleged breaches
- Failure to comply with UEFA's regulations, including UEFA's Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations - Five alleged breaches
Topics: Manchester City, Football, Premier League
Ryan Smart