The hearing to review 115 Premier League allegations brought against Manchester City began on Monday when the team’s attorneys showed up in London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC). Visibly arriving at the IDRC near St. Paul’s Cathedral in central London is Lord Pannick KC of Blackstone Chambers, who is in charge of City’s legal team.
According to reports, the independent commission’s decision is not expected until the new year, and the hearing was set to go for ten weeks. If found guilty, the club who is also suspected of not cooperating with an investigation may be subject to a number of penalties, such as a significant points deduction or maybe expulsion from the Premier League.
Following a protracted inquiry on claims made by the German publication Der Spiegel in the fall of 2018, City was charged by the league in February 2023. The team says it has a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to back up its claims and denies any misconduct.
Points deduction is insufficient as club reassure players
Over the course of nine years, beginning in 2009 with the ownership of Abu Dhabi United Group and ending in 2018, City has been accused of violating FFP restrictions. It is projected that the hearing will take around two months, and the decision won’t likely be made public until at least spring 2025.
Should the Premier League prevail in the legal matter, they may face severe penalties. Although it’s still a way off, the threat of being kicked out of the top flight entirely has also been mentioned, along with a point loss of up to 100 points.
