Pep Guardiola has achieved unprecedented success with Man City – but was it all done legally? (Photo: Getty)
The highly-anticipated hearing into Manchester City’s 115 alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules is set to begin very soon.
The charges have been hanging over City for years – a dark cloud that has overshadowed their historic success in the Premier League and Champions League.
Now, the matter looks set to finally be resolved with The Times reporting that the hearing will begin in mid-to-late September, around two months earlier than expected.
The date has been moved forward because the outcome of City’s separate case against the Premier League is set to be revealed in the next two weeks. Once that matter is finished, the hearing into the alleged breaches can begin.
The Citizens launched legal action against the top-flight back in June, shortly after winning their fourth straight league title, in an attempt to get rid of the Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.
They believe the rules, introduced in 2021, to be unlawful and discriminatory, and it is said that City have ‘achieved some successes in the arbitration hearing’.
But if fans and other clubs were hoping for a swift conclusion to the FFP saga they’re in for a nasty shock, as this hearing is scheduled to take around 10 weeks, pending any further legal delays.
Man City’s 115 alleged breaches explained
54 alleged breaches for failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009-10 to, and including, 2017-18.
14 alleged breaches for failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation from 2009-10 to, and including, 2017-18.
5 alleged breaches for failure to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
7 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations from 2015-16 to, and including, 2017-18.
35 alleged breaches for failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to present.
Members of the independent commission are therefore expected to deliver their verdict at the start of 2025.
If found guilty, the club could face a points deduction or even relegation if the most serious charges are proved.
Last season, Everton and Nottingham Forest were deducted eight and four points respectively for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
City have always denied any wrongdoing.
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