Manchester City have been warned they could be given a huge point deduction as the club await the verdict of their legal battle with the Premier League. In February 2023, the Premier League charged its champions with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations.
These include accusations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and failed to cooperate with investigations spanning nine seasons (2009/10 to 2017/18). Manchester City denied any wrongdoing, so they looked to prove their innocence in front of an independent panel.
The case – that was heard in private at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London – concluded late last year. A three-man panel have been reviewing the evidence before they deliver a final verdict in the coming months.
It’s said that if City are found guilty, they can expect to be hit with a financial penalty or a point deduction. The independent commission – that heard the charges between September and December – also have the power to strip titles from Pep Guardiola’s side.
Nevertheless, football finance expert Kieran Maguire has addressed the potential punishments. Speaking on the Tear Us Apart podcast, he said: “It has to be a points deduction – if found guilty. We are looking at a points deduction somewhere in the region of 60 to 100 points.”
Maguire added: “The other thing that would happen is that the board of directors at Manchester City effectively would be proven to be liars and misrepresenting the state of the football club to the authorities.
“I don’t see how they can keep their jobs. Certainly we saw in the case of Juventus, who have done something similar [to what City are charged with] that the whole board of directors had to resign.”
In August, Guardiola was delighted to hear that a hearing start date was finally agreed. Speaking to reporters ahead of City’s clash against Ipswich Town, he said: “I am happy it starts soon and hopefully it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us.
“Especially for the club but for all the other Premier League clubs, like for all the people that don’t wait for the sentence. I wish from deep in my heart to go to the trial, the independent panel – and I say it again, independent panel – and as soon as possible release what happened, and we will accept like always we have done.”
When asked if he was worried whether the situation could distract his players, Guardiola replied: “No, we have been three or four years talking about that.”
Then, in February this year, Guardiola suggested that a final verdict will be announced in March. The City boss told reporters: “In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far.”
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london’s dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!
By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.
To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!
If you’re curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
