An earthquake in England: guilty on 114 charges, and punishments that could reach the stripping of its titles!
City remain silent
Manchester City have been dealt a heavy blow in their case over alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. Reports indicate that the independent commission examining the file has found the club guilty on most of the charges brought against it. The sanctions that could follow remain undetermined.
According to The Athletic, citing journalist David Ornstein and sources familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity, the commission found City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges relating to non-compliance with financial regulations. The club are expected to appeal.
Those charges date back to the Premier League's case against City over financial breaches spanning 14 years, according to the file, along with an accusation of failing to cooperate fully with the investigation carried out between 2018 and 2023.
Among them was a failure to provide accurate financial information over nine seasons, from 2009-2010 to 2017-2018, as well as a failure to supply full details of the wages paid to former manager Roberto Mancini between the 2009-2010 and 2012-2013 seasons.
The Premier League also accused the club of failing to provide detailed information about payments to players between 2010-2011 and 2015-2016, and of failing to cooperate with the subsequent investigation.
Sanctions have yet to be decided. Depending on the nature of the breaches established by the proceedings, they could range from financial fines to points deductions, with the possibility raised that they might apply retrospectively to previous seasons and carry consequences for Premier League titles.
City, for their part, did not confirm the reports. The Athletic quoted a club spokesperson as saying that "the process is still ongoing, with important aspects still to be resolved and subject to strict confidentiality," insisting the club's position remains consistent with its statement issued in February 2023.
Back then, City expressed surprise at the charges and welcomed the referral of the case to an independent commission to weigh the evidence impartially, pending completion of the proceedings and a determination of the final position and any sanctions.
