A day after the shocking defeat by Tottenham in the derby (0:1), a new blow for Manchester City. The Premier League has accused the Citizens of numerous breaches of financial rules, with the announcement that the case has been referred to an independent commission. It follows a four-year investigation into the club’s financial status, and the charges in total date from the 2009/10 season to this season. According to the Premier League statement, they have breached league rules requiring provision “in utmost good faith” of “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”. The league says the accurate financial information required related to “revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs”.🚨 BREAKING 🚨Manchester City have been charged by the Premier League for breaking numerous Financial Fair Play rules.A points deduction as punishment is not off the table. pic.twitter.com/vgAlLL0Ozh— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 6, 2023 So far, nobody knows exactly what type of sanctions are City facing if they are found guilty, but points deduction is one of those possibilities. The club is yet to comment on these accusations. The offenses were committed over nine seasons between 2009 and 2018 and number more than 100. In February 2020, they were banned by UEFA from European competition for two seasons and also fined 30 million euros. They took that case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The ban was overturned and the fine was reduced to 10 million. But according to the Premier League rules, they can’t turn to CAS for help in this situation. Also, unlike UEFA, in England, there is no time frame for these alleged offenses.🗣️ “We were accused. I will never forget that there were 8 or 9 teams in the Premier League that sent a letter for us to be banned, to be out of the Premier League. That happened to us when we have the 5th best net spend.” Pep Guardiola speaking on Friday. 💭 pic.twitter.com/X6iOg6hvsU— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 6, 2023 The second set of breaches listed refers to alleged breaking of rules “requiring a member club to include full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts with its manager” related to seasons 2009-10 to 2012-13 inclusive (Roberto Mancini was the boss at the time). The third section deals with alleged breaches of Premier League rules requiring clubs to comply with UEFA financial fair play regulations, between 2013-14 to 2017-18. The fourth set of alleged breaches relates to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules in seasons 2015-16 to 2017-18 inclusive. Finally, the club are alleged to have breached league rules requiring member clubs to co-operate with and assist the Premier League with its investigations, from December 2018 to date.What is wrong with Manchester City?“Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with. The Club welcomes 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. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all” said the club in a short statement.The Premier League has required in each of those seasons to provide accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position, particularly in relation to their revenues (including sponsorships), related parties and its operating costs.“Why did I defend the club and the people? It’s because I work with them. When they are accused of something I ask them: ‘Tell me about that.’ They explain and I believe them. I said to them: ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend any more. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that” said Guardiola in May 2022.
