Monday, September 16, 2024. While it may not be D-Day, a serious battle is beginning today, one that could shape the future of football. If there’s any remaining justice in the sport, this case could change quite a lot, and there’s no doubt about that. Today, at a secret location in London, as reported by British media, Manchester City faces trial for a series of financial irregularities committed between 2009 and 2022. Initially, an independent three-member commission will assess the 115 charges against the most successful English club of the last decade, leading to a process that won’t be quick but will result in historic decisions. Whether City is found guilty of most charges or acquitted, the outcome will be significant. Regardless of the verdict, this trial will have a crucial impact on the future of football business operations. But before the commission begins its work, let’s review the allegations facing the English champions and what potential consequences could arise.‘Every club wants us to lose the trial with the Premier League‘WHAT ARE THE CHARGES?The Premier League has filed over 100 charges against Manchester City for breaching regulations over a 13-year period. The allegations cover four key areas: failure to keep accurate and honest financial records; failure to include all details regarding player and manager payments in reports; violations of both national and continental Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules; and non-cooperation with the Premier League during their internal investigations into these breaches.🚨 Manchester City are set to hire Lord Pannick KC, one of Boris Johnson’s Partygate lawyers, to help defend the club against the Premier League.He typically charges £5,000-a-hour but could charge City £80,000-a-day or £400,000-a-week if it goes to trial.(Source: @SunSport) pic.twitter.com/1GXzyYiVoI— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 7, 2023 THE DETAILSThe Premier League has released a broad indictment without specifying the crucial details. However, the timeline suggests the allegations overlap with claims already made public. First, City allegedly inflated the value of sponsorship deals as a means to funnel additional money from the club’s owners into its accounts. Second, secret payments were allegedly made to then-manager Roberto Mancini and Yaya Touré’s agent. Third, these actions reportedly violated FFP regulations. Fourth, when the Premier League tried to investigate, City allegedly obstructed the process, denying any wrongdoing.Pep’s wish: ‘Let’s start the trial ASAP’!WHY ARE THESE CHARGES IMPORTANT?Simply put, according to media in the UK, the charges are seismic in nature and carry enormous implications, no matter the verdict. This is particularly significant given that it occurs during one of the most dominant periods for any club in Premier League history. In the 14 seasons covered by the investigation, City won seven league titles, six League Cups, three FA Cups, and the Champions League. Since then, they’ve added another Premier League title, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Since the 2011/12 season, they’ve been regulars in the Champions League. Many argue this dominance has contributed to the Premier League’s growing financial power and caused a shift in European football’s balance, weakening competition and fueling the idea of a Super League, which City was a part of at one point. In February 2023, when the allegations first surfaced, La Liga president Javier Tebas referred to the Premier League as a “doped market.” Tebas recently reiterated that Premier League clubs understand City must be sanctioned if found guilty. “If Manchester City is convicted, football will come under much stricter control by the authorities” Tebas stated.Aymeric Laporte: “When I was at #ManCity and the news broke on the 115 charges, Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano came and told all the players and staff that we can all be very calm because NOT ONE RULE HAS BEEN BROKEN by Manchester City. They told us everything was fine so… pic.twitter.com/RysqiYPj0h— City Report (@cityreport_) September 16, 2024 WHAT’S NEXT?The Premier League has tasked the consulting firm Murray Rosen KC to select three members for the independent commission that begins hearing the case today. One of these members is a financial expert whose opinion will carry significant weight. The hearings will be private, and while there is no official timeframe, it is expected to last around 60 days. Once the commission reaches a verdict, both parties (the Premier League and Manchester City) will have the right to appeal. Further appeals can be made to higher courts, and if any party is dissatisfied, the British High Court may be their final recourse. Unlike the previous UEFA case, there will be no option to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) this time.Fight fire with fire: City suing the Premier LeagueWHAT IF CITY IS FOUND GUILTY?According to Premier League rule B.51, the commission has a wide range of possible sanctions for any club found guilty of breaking the rules. These include fines, points deductions (even retroactively), temporary suspension, or even expulsion from the competition. Subsection B.51.7 allows for a combination of these penalties, meaning it’s possible City could be stripped of titles as well.##NAJAVA_MECA_8333662##WHAT’S MANCHESTER CITY’S RESPONSE?Manchester City’s executives remain defiant and have mounted an aggressive defense. Officially, they claim to welcome the review and the opportunity for an impartial commission to clear up the situation. They also state that they were unaware of all the charges until the information was leaked to the public. Furthermore, they argue they have been investigated before and were cleared of any wrongdoing, referring to the previous UEFA case. According to an exclusive report from the Daily Mail, City’s top brass have held further discussions with players and staff, assuring them that “there’s nothing to worry about.” The trial, already dubbed the “trial of the century,” was dismissed by manager Pep Guardiola, who said: “If we are guilty, we will pay for it,” and noted he would no longer be City’s coach if any illegal actions were proven. The verdict is not expected until after the New Year.Bees’ early sting can’t hurt you when you have mighty Haaland-iserHOW DID UEFA FAIL?In 2020, UEFA tried to punish Manchester City for similar financial irregularities, banning them from the Champions League for two years. UEFA’s case covered the period from 2012 to 2016, concluding that City inflated sponsorship deals to comply with FFP regulations. However, CAS overturned the suspension because the case had passed its five-year statute of limitations, and UEFA’s documentation was incomplete. This led many to speculate that the allegations were never intended to hold up in court, but were merely to appease public outcry. In the end, City paid a 20 million euros fine, which still raised questions — why were they fined if they were innocent?115 charges FCpic.twitter.com/VVfxzIYv41— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) February 11, 2024 Many see this trial as the real “trial of the century,” as Tebas stated. If City is convicted, football will enter a new era of financial control, possibly narrowing the gap between the wealthiest clubs and the so-called “middle class.” However, this raises the question: where does this leave the Premier League, whose dominance could also be diminished? There are even suggestions that City has a backup plan if they were expelled from the Premier League, potentially aligning with Real Madrid and Barcelona in an effort to topple UEFA’s order, reigniting the idea of a European Super League. On the other hand, if City emerges unscathed again, experts predict this could signify the end of traditional football governance, with clubs becoming untouchable, and it would only be a matter of time before a closed competition akin to American sports leagues is established.
