With the start of Manchester City’s 115 charges hearing now just days away, other Premier League clubs have reportedly raised concerns over what could happen in the wake of the case.
The hearing into Manchester City’s alleged violations of Premier League rules is set to start on September 16 and is expected to continue for about two months.
The charges cover a 14-season span starting from 2009/10 and include various alleged breaches, which City firmly denies.
Manchester City is accused of failing to provide accurate information, misreporting player and manager payments, breaching profit and sustainability regulations, not adhering to UEFA’s financial fair play rules, and not cooperating with Premier League investigations.
City asserts that they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their defense, and the case will be decided by an independent panel.
Although the hearing is imminent, a final decision, including any appeals, is not anticipated until after the end of the 2024/25 season.
There are concerns about the potential legal costs for the Premier League, regardless of the case’s outcome.
According to the Daily Mail, the Premier League might face a bill totaling “tens of millions” even if they win the case against City.
This follows a recent situation where a commission and appeal board determined that the Premier League was responsible for a large portion of the legal fees in their dispute with Everton. Officials had tried to make Everton cover the entire £4.9 million bill for the case, which led to the club being docked 10 points, later reduced to six on appeal.
It has now been determined that Everton is responsible for approximately one-third of the legal fees, amounting to £1.7 million, while the Premier League must cover the remaining £3.2 million.
This development has raised fears that the Premier League could face an even larger financial burden once the case against Manchester City concludes.
According to the Daily Mail, the ruling involving Everton has heightened concerns among some Premier League clubs about the potential costs of the City hearing.
Reports indicate that the legal costs for Manchester City’s case have already reached “tens of millions” and are expected to keep increasing.
SPORTb
