It has been more than 18 months since City were referred to an independent commission over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The champions have been charged with more than 100 breaches of financial regulations, spanning from the 2009/10 season to 2017/18, which cover inflating income, deflating costs, and non-cooperation.
City subsequently lodged legal challenges, claiming to have ‘irrefutable evidence’ to disprove the alleged breaches. If found guilty, potential sanctions could range from fines and points deductions to being stripped of Premier League titles and expulsion from the division.
Things were relatively quiet for the rest of 2023 before Masters said in Januarythat a date had been set for the independent commission to hear the league’s financial charges against City. He then reiterated in April that the case was ongoing and would “resolve itself at some point in the near future”.
According to The Times, the hearing has now been brought forward from the start of November to mid-to-late September, with a verdict likely to be delivered in early 2025.
Unsurprisingly, relations between the Premier League and City are strained. The club maintains its innocence and fuelled hostilities by initiating separate legal action against the competition in an attempt to strike down its sponsorship rules.
According to The Times, City have claimed they are victims of ‘discrimination’ against Gulf ownership and believe the top flight’s associated party transaction (APT) regulations unfairly stifle their on-pitch success.
APT measures were tightened in February and were essentially aimed at richer clubs who sign sponsorship deals with companies that have links to their owners. City, owned by Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Mansour and whose stadium and shirt are sponsored by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had previously expressed their opposition to the rule changes.
The Times reports that the two sides will learn the outcome of that case in the next fortnight, which is why the hearing into City’s financial charges has been brought forward.
Either way, it appears that the 2024/25 season could finally provide some clarity on a situation that has cast a shadow over the Premier League champions since the charges were announced.
By SportsProMedia
