Manchester City has recently been a dominant powerhouse in English football winning four consecutive Premier League titles and taking early control of the new season. Pep Guardiola’s men also won the UEFA Champions League in 2023 which was the first European triumph in their history.
Despite the immense success they have enjoyed on-pitch, all has not gone according to plan off-it as they have been hit with 115 charges against them for various financial irregularities. This includes allegations of providing misleading financial information and a team of lawyers will now be tasked with clearing the club’s name and putting an end to the accusations that have overshadowed its remarkable era of success.
These charges came to light after a 4-year long investigation which was backed by leaked emails and documents in 2018. The documents reportedly revealed efforts to conceal the true source of City’s income in an attempt to meet Financial Fair Play regulations enforced by UEFA and the Premier League.
The hearing in the court will be done by an independent commission consisting of 3 judges which will be appointed by a lawyer who heads the league’s judicial panel. The verdict will be held behind closed doors with the decision expected next year.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was quick to share his thoughts on the situation, claiming they were innocent despite all the accusations, “My first thought is we are already being condemned,” he said after the charges were made. “We are lucky we live in a marvelous country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We didn’t have this opportunity. We are already sentenced.” he added.
What Penalties Can Manchester City Face?
If Manchester City do end up as the guilty party in the 115 charges slapped on them, they can face penalties such as hefty fines and possible point deductions. In extreme cases, the defending Premier League champions could also face “expulsion from the competition” according to the league’s rules.
In 2020, Manchester City was banned from participating in the UEFA competitions for two seasons for failing to cooperate with the investigators and for inflation in sponsor’s revenue but the charges were dropped by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) stating these charges were not proven.
Earlier this year, Manchester City itself took the Premier League to court arguing that the profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) are unlawful and sought damage due to the revenue lost as a result of these rules.
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Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
