On Monday, September 16, the highly anticipated hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges for allegedly breaching the Premier League financial rules began. Following a four-year investigation, it was in February 2023 when Manchester City were charged and referred to an independent commission for allegedly breaching the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules between 2009 and 2018, which they have vehemently denied along with feeling confident about proving themselves correct in the court of law.
Notably, the 115 charges are about the alleged illicit financing from Manchester City outside of the Premier League ambit apart from not cooperating with the officials of the English league during a nine-year period. Manchester City have remarked that their case is backed up by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence,” but if they are found guilty as charged, their punishments could involve stripping them off multiple Premier League titles from 2009 to 2018.
Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see: Pep Guardiola on Manchester City’s FFP case
According to the BBC report, the Premier League claims against Manchester City are about not providing them “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position,” in regard to the club’s revenue. Meanwhile, Manchester City have stated that German newspaper Der Spiegel, who originally published about the alleged financial breach, did it via “illegal hacking.”
On Friday, September 13, Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, addressed the alleged FFP breach case in a press conference before the Premier League clash against Burnley. He was quoted as saying, “It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon. I’m happy it’s starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumours, new specialists about the sentences. We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I read for many, many years. Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”
Manchester City are currently on top of the Premier League standings after winning their first four matches, leading Arsenal by two points. They are slated to take on Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League matchday one fixture on September 18 at the Etihad Stadium.