Premier League giants Manchester City face a daunting task ahead after it was established that they had more than 100 breaches in the financial fair play rules
According to a statement released on Monday, the English Premier League charged Manchester City for breaching financial fair play rules. City have been accused of not giving accurate financial information from the 2013/14 to 2017/18 seasons and evaded the Premier League’s rules on profit and sustainability from the 2015/16 to 2017/18 seasons.
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Since being acquired by The Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City has won six Premier League championships, two FA Cups, six EFL Cups, and lost in the final of the 2021 UEFA Champions League. During this period City have come under heavy scrutiny and criticism on several occasions.
In May 2022, under similar circumstances, City Manager Pep Guardiola noted that he would leave in the event the club’s owners had lied to him. Guardiola said, “When they are accused of something I ask them: tell me about that. They explain and I believe them. I said to them: If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend anymore. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that.”
In February 2020, according to theGuardian, Manchester City were banned from the UEFA Champions League after being found guilty of breaching the financial fair play rules. The ban didn’t last long and was overturned after an appeal by the court for arbitration for sport.
City’s fine was later reduced from $34 million to $11.3 million.
What Could Happen This Time if City Are Found Guilty?
As seen in recent years, the case might drag on for months if not years. Manchester City has been referred to an independent commission that will make the ruling. However, this time the commission’s ruling will be final and City will not be allowed to appeal at the court for arbitration for sport.
The 15-member commission, which was chosen by the Premier League’s legal council, will hold closed, private hearings. Judges, attorneys, and football administrators make up the judicial panel.
According to section W.51.4 of the Premier League’s official rules and regulations, City could face any of the following:
- A fine of unlimited quantity
- Suspension of a club from playing in league matches, with an unlimited timeframe
- Point deductions
- Replays of past matches
- Permanent expulsion
In that section, it also outlines the commission’s power as it could; ‘Make any such other order as the commission sees fit’
Simply said, it is still too early to predict how the independent panel will rule.
