Manchester City has been accused by the Premier League of breaking its regulations more than 100 times over a number of years. If proven, these would be the worst offenses a club has ever committed in the tournament.
If the club is found guilty, the independent commission that will review the charges may propose that City be disqualified from the competition, suspended, or given fewer points. These penalties are included in the Premier League manual. However, it is obvious that a commission may impose whatever penalty it sees fit.
The six-time Premier League champions have been accused of breaking rules governing financial fair play, failing to provide “a true and fair view of the club’s financial position,” failing to “include full details” of player and manager compensation, and refusing to cooperate in a Premier League investigation that has now been concluded after more than four years.
The charges will have a profound impact on the sporting community. Since being acquired by a private equity firm headed by the Abu Dhabi royal family in 2008, City has revolutionized football. The club is the hub of a global network of 12 football teams, and the value of their team is estimated to be more than ÂŁ1 billion.
The financial allegations made against Manchester City span the years 2009 to 2018, and the requirements for a club to “cooperate with, and assist, the Premier League in its investigations” go all the way up to this season. An impartial commission, to be chosen by Murray Rosen KC, the head of the Premier League judicial panel, will hear the allegations.
After being determined to have violated the competition’s financial regulations and misled the European governing body, City was banned from the Champions League by UEFA in February 2020. However, the punishment was reversed on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for sport.
We estimate Manchester City to be worth $4.25 billion, making it the third-most valuable club in the Premier League, behind only Manchester United and Liverpool, and the sixth-most valuable soccer team in the entire globe.
Although proceedings and hearings are conducted in private, there are a variety of potential penalties for breaking financial regulations. For instance, City could receive a point reduction, fines, or reprimands if found guilty. In a worst-case scenario, the Premier League may ban City.
However, unlike with the UEFA ban, Manchester City won’t be able to appeal any final decisions to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.
