Man City hearing: Premier League 115 charges case begins
BBC sports editor Dan Roan clarifies the allegations against Manchester City.
Revised on September 16, 2024.
The inquiry into Manchester City facing 115 accusations of violating the Premier League's financial regulations started on Monday.
In February 2023, City faced charges and was passed on to an independent commission after a four-year inquiry.
It is claimed that City violated its financial regulations from 2009 to 2018.
The city firmly rejects all allegations and claims that their position is backed by a wide range of undeniable proof.
The Premier League alleges that City violated regulations by failing to supply "accurate financial details that reflect a genuine and honest picture of the club's financial status."
This section discussed the club's earnings, which consist of money from sponsorships and the expenses related to running the operation.
It has additionally claimed that the Premier League champions have not been collaborating.
When the investigation by the Premier League started, City claimed that the accusations were completely untrue. They asserted that the allegations, which were first reported by the German newspaper Der Spiegel, stemmed from "unauthorized hacking and the misuse of City emails."
Since the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008, the team has secured eight league championships, numerous cup victories, and the Champions League title.
The confidential hearing, anticipated to take about 10 weeks, is taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre located in London.
We'll bide our time and observe, said Guardiola regarding the Manchester City hearing.
"Secretive Arrivals Mark Case's Start"
Laura Scott, a reporter for BBC Sports News.
Similar to the mystery surrounding the case, the lawyers we observed entering the hearing this morning remained tight-lipped.
However, it offered valuable confirmation that the hearing has officially begun and is taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London.
On Monday morning, only my producer, a fellow trade journalist, and I were waiting outside the venue.
Getting to the venue ahead of this potentially groundbreaking case was Lord Pannick, a barrister from Blackstone Chambers. He has provided legal representation for a range of high-profile figures, including the Queen and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Last year, City fans even honored him with a banner that read 'Pannick on the streets of London.'
Pannick and his assistant appeared eager to steer clear of our camera as they arrived. He will be heading Manchester City's legal team, which features barristers from Serle Court, including Philip Marshall KC and James Mather.
There was no indication that Adam Lewis KC or the other barristers representing the Premier League were present, so it's possible they entered through a different entrance.
Photo credit: Laura Scott
Lord Pannick KC, seen on the right, arrives for the beginning of Manchester City's hearing concerning over 100 charges from the Premier League on Monday, September 16.
What Are The 115 Charges?
• 54 instances of not delivering precise financial data from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
• 14 instances of not supplying correct information regarding payments for players and managers from the 2009-2010 season to the 2017-2018 season.
• Five instances of not adhering to UEFA's regulations, including the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, between the 2013-14 and 2017-18 seasons.
• Violations of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Regulations from the 2015-16 season to the 2017-18 season, occurring seven times.
• 35 instances of not cooperating with Premier League inquiries from December 2018 to February 2023.
According to a report from The Times, the true figure for the supposed rule violations stands at 130. This clarification follows some initial misunderstandings in how the Premier League outlined the charges concerning specific seasons in its statement released in February 2023.
These are not extra fees, but the Premier League has apparently released a clarification.
How Long Will The Case Take?
Media reports indicate that the hearing is anticipated to span approximately 10 weeks, which would extend into late November.
"It will begin shortly and, fingers crossed, wrap up quickly," City manager Pep Guardiola mentioned on Friday. "I'm eager to hear the outcome."
I'm glad it's kicking off on Monday. I anticipate more speculation and fresh experts weighing in on the outcomes. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm aware of what people are anticipating and their expectations; I've been following this for a long time.
"Everyone is presumed innocent until there is evidence of their guilt. Let's wait and see what happens."
When Will The Verdict Be Announced?
After the hearing wraps up, a decision won't be made right away. There's no specific date for when a verdict will be reached, but some reports indicate that a ruling might come sometime in early 2025.
Is An Appeal On The Horizon?
This kind of situation isn't eligible to be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, either party has the option to file an appeal, which would lead to a new hearing conducted by a different independent panel.
Considering Legal Costs: What To Know
This particular case has been developing for six years, leading to legal costs for both parties that are already projected to be in the tens of millions of pounds, even before the hearing begins.
Anticipate that the victorious party will seek to recover their expenses.
To provide some background, the Premier League expected Everton to cover the entire £4.9 million in legal fees from their initial case regarding a six-point deduction in last season's financial regulations. Everton's attorney, Celia Rooney, remarked during the appeal that the costs were, to put it mildly, shocking.
A review board decided that Everton is required to pay £1.7 million, while the Premier League will take care of the additional £3.2 million in legal costs.
Any expenses incurred by the Premier League as a result of the City case would need to be divided among the 20 teams that constitute the league.
Meet The Lawyers Involved
Source of the image: Getty Images
In February 2023, Manchester City supporters honored barrister Lord Pannick KC with a banner that quoted lyrics from the iconic Manchester band The Smiths.
We currently have no information about the members of the independent panel that is reviewing the case and making decisions. We will probably find out their identities only after the written ruling is published.
The city's legal team is headed by Lord Pannick KC, who is said to charge £5,000 per hour for his expertise. He assisted the city in getting a two-year ban from European competitions lifted in 2020.
