Everything you need to know about the hearing and the charges against Manchester City | Manchester City

What is Manchester City accused of?

He The Premier League has cashed in The Premier League champions have been charged with more than 100 breaches of competition rules between the 2009-10 and 2022-23 seasons. The charges cover four areas: failing to provide “a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”; failing to “include full details” of player and manager remuneration; breaches of domestic and continental financial fair play rules; and failing to “cooperate with and assist the Premier League in its investigations”. The charges will be examined by a three-person independent commission, starting on Monday, at what is believed to be a venue in London.

Do we have specific details?

The Premier League has published only an extended charge sheet, with no details. However, the timelines suggest the charges match allegations already in the public domain. Firstly, that City inflated the value of sponsorship deals as a means of funnelling more money from their owners to the club. Secondly, that secret payments were made. To coach Roberto Mancini and Yaya Toure's then agent. Thirdly, that these acts brought the club into breach of financial rules. Fourthly, that when the Premier League attempted to investigate the allegations, City obstructed them. City have always denied any wrongdoing.

Why are positions important?

Because of their seismic nature and implications, whatever the verdict. Because they are unprecedented in domestic football. And because of City's dominance. In the 14 seasons covered by the charges, City have won seven Premier Leagues, six League Cups, three FA Cups and the Champions League. Since then, they have won another Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. They have played in the Champions League every season since 2011-12. This has fuelled the Premier League's global pre-eminence and ever-increasing transfer costs (City's squad is worth more than £1bn). There are also arguments that it has affected the competitive balance here and across Europe, leading to the near-development of a Separatist Super League (of which City was a part) and accelerated the need for independent regulation of English football. In February 2023, when the charges were made, La Liga president Javier Tebas called on the English top flight a “doped market”On Friday, he told Mundo Deportivo: “I have spoken to many Premier League clubs and most of them understand that City should be sanctioned.” If City are judged to have succeeded in breaking the rules, the game will come under greater scrutiny.

What happens next?

Low Premier League On Murray Rosen's instructions, the KC has selected three people to form the independent commission that will hear the charges, and one of the members of this panel is required to be a financial expert. The hearings will be held privately and, although there is no formal timeframe, legal experts believe it will take a minimum of two months. When the commission publishes its verdict, either side can go to an appeals panel and, after this, to arbitration. If all fails, either side could try to find an argument to take to the higher court. Under the Premier League's association rules, neither side has the opportunity to go to the court of arbitration for sport in Switzerland.

If he is guilty, what could be the punishment?

Under rule W.51 of the Premier League handbook, a committee has the power to impose a wide range of sanctions against any club found to be in breach of the rules. These include fines, loss of points and suspension, or even expulsion, from the competition. Indeed, sub-clause W.51.7 states that the committee may “impose on the respondent any combination of the above or any other sanction it considers appropriate”. That even leaves open the possibility of City being stripped of their titles.

What does the city say?

The champions are optimistic. The club says in the filing that it “welcomes the review” and the opportunity to “impartially consider the full body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position”. Club sources also claim that City were not informed of the charges before they were published online. Finally, they argue that the club has been the subject of investigations for breaches of financial rules before and was cleared.

Haven't we been here before with UEFA?

At UEFA 2020 Suspended city from the Champions League for two years for “overstating sponsorship income in its accounts” between 2012 and 2016, part of the same period covered by the Premier League allegations. However, that sanction was overturned on appeal by the Court of Appeal. In its ruling, the Court of Appeal found that a number of the claims made by UEFA had fallen outside the five-year limitation period preventing the bringing of historical charges. But the court also argued that a key charge over payments relating to sponsorship of Etihad Airlines was “not established”. The panel said UEFA had presented insufficient evidence and that if its case had been correct then City employees who had given evidence to the Court of Appeal would have had to have lied.

UEFA ruled in 2014 that City had breached financial fair play rules but reached a settlement which saw City pay a €20m fine and submit reduced squads for the Champions League. The review into the alleged wrongdoing came after the “Football Leaks” hack in 2015 exposed what appear to be official documents and email communications from within City, along with other football organisations. It is understood these documents also prompted the Premier League's investigation, a four-year process which has led to these charges. City have previously described Football Leaks as an “orchestrated campaign” and part of “an endless attempt to damage us”.