Premier League independent hearing starts today into Manchester City FFP allegations
An independent hearing will begin today (Monday September 16) into the 115 Financial Fair Play charges laid by the Premier League against Manchester City, the outcome of which could be cataclysmic for both parties.
The panel is expected to take around 10 weeks to hear all charges, and a decision is expected by spring next year.
If it finds against reigning Premier League Champions, City, the sanctions could range from a financial fine, to a points deduction or even expulsion from the league. It could also open up the possibility of legal action against City by other clubs.
If City are cleared, it will have cost the league multimillions in legal costs and will severely damage its standing.
The alleged breaches stretch over 14 seasons and include subverting regulations by failing to provide accurate financial information on matters such as transfers and wages, which it is argued, put the club at an advantage to its rivals.
City deny all charges.
The club escaped serious punishment after UEFA ruled, in 2020, that it had committed “serious breaches” of FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016.
But a subsequent two-year ban from European competitions was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport later that year.
Responding to the most recent allegations at the time, Abu Dhabi-owned City said it welcomed the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position, adding: “As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
Both Everton and Nottingham Forest will be interested onlookers, having felt the wrath of the league’s PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules) code through costly points deductions that put their top flight status in serious jeopardy.
City is already flexing its legal muscles having instigated its own action against the Premier League earlier this year, in what many interpreted as a pre-emptive strike.
The club is suing the league in an attempt to end its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules which are linked to commercial and sponsorship deals with companies owned or associated with the same club’s owners.
The current rules require such transactions to be independently assessed to be of fair market value.
City believes the rules are ‘unlawful’ and wants damages for revenue lost by preventions made by those rules.
The club has portrayed itself as the oppressed party, referring to the Premier League’s rules, that require any changes to be approved by 14 of the league’s 20 member teams.
City calls this the “tyranny of the majority”.
But the only majority following City’s action was one of widespread criticism of the club.
Football writer and broadcaster, Henry Winter, said at the time: “I don’t think anyone looks at Manchester City as the oppressed.”
He added “This just reeks. Who runs the game in this country? Should it be the democracy of the Premier League, with the 14 majority of teams who vote things through? Or should English football be run from Saudi (Arabia) or Abu Dhabi?”
Many commentators believed the action was an attempt by City to either deflect attention from the FFP charges, or a bid to bargain with the league to withdraw or water down those charges.
Neither City nor the Premier League have commented.
