New Delhi: Manchester City are closing in on judgement day for their alleged breaching of financial rules much earlier than previously predicted. The City are currently in the middle of an independent hearing by a Premier League panel for breaching, previously thought to be 115 breaches of financial rules.
City had been charged with flouting rules in 2023, with allegations about breaches going as far back as 2009. After much back-and-forth, the club are now accused of just over 100 violations. Man City have maintained that they are incorrupt and that they had evidence that will prove their innocence in the long run.
🚨 A verdict on Manchester City’s 115 charges is expected by the end of the year.
(Source: @TheAthleticFC) pic.twitter.com/9NXJ03RwkV
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 17, 2024
Aside from this, City are also embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with the Premier League over rules regarding Associated Party Transaction (APT). Manchester City argued that the regulations evade the UK’s competition laws. The Premier League stated that APT was used to ensure that sponsorship deals with companies connected to the club’s owners always reflect the actual market value, and no club could escape the penalty for breaching.
A separate independent panel had ruled in the City’s favour on the two main issues, which they said undermined the complete concept of APT. After this ruling, it is being reported that the City’s verdict regarding the alleged financial breachings might be preponed. According to reports by Athletic, the verdict will be out by the end of the year.
Earlier, it was thought that City would have to wait until 2025 to hear the verdict from the Premier League’s panel. Though City have been victorious with the APT case, experts have warned that it didn’t mean that there will be no punishment if City are found guilty of violating financial laws as the two cases were treated separately.
