Why Manchester City face 115 charges and what it means for their transfer fees, trophies and future

Manchester City remain under investigation by the Premier League for 115 charges of alleged financial irregularity, charges which they deny.

pep guardiolaThe Barcelona team won a fourth consecutive top-flight title in May, but a cloud hangs over their continued success.

City, whose last title was the sixth in seven years, were charged by the Premier League more than a year ago, in February 2023.

Since then, the investigation has not concluded but Everton and Nottingham Forest has been punished for minor crimes.

The Premier League has argued that City's case is different due to the depth, scale and complexity of the 115 charges.

Why are Man City facing 115 charges?

The Etihad team has been accused of violating FFP rules about 100 times for nine years, from 2009 to 2018.

His alleged crimes coincided with the club's growth into the dominant force in English football.

City won the Premier League three times during that period: in 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Their charges range from failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to comply with UEFAof the FFP rules and not disclosing the remuneration of managers.

However, not all relate to financial issues: 35 relate to allegedly failing to co-operate with the Premier League investigation.

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Charges explained

While the noncompliance offenses are self-explanatory, the first alleged noncompliance is the noncompliance for which the City faces the most charges.

Each Premier League club subscribes to a compliance code, which involves providing the league with accurate and up-to-date accounts.

The city, however, has been accused of inflate the value of your sponsorship which allowed the owner sheikh mansur to inject more money into the club.

Other charges include failing to provide accurate financial reports for player and coach compensation.

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The latter refers to the former Manchester City coach. Roberto Manciniwho had allegedly been paid more than £1 million annually in consultancy fees to Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi, in addition to his declared salary.

These alleged hidden payments were also said to have been awarded to players signed during that period, theoretically allowing City to build the foundations of success upon which Guardiola took over in 2016.

Citizens were fined around £27 million for alleged FFP violations by UEFA and imposed a two-year ban in 2020, which was later annulled by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the money was reduced to £10 million.

The panel found that some alleged violations were time-barred; The most important thing is that the Premier League investigation does NOT include a prescription.

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What does it mean for their future?

The duel between the Premier League and Manchester City is scheduled for autumn 2024, although an official date has not been revealed.

A verdict will not be reached until 2025, but the various appeal processes mean it could be years before any punishment is handed down.

A series of sanctions could be imposed on the current champions should they be found guilty of any or all of the charges.

A substantial fine or a point deduction It would seem most likely, but City could also be expelled from the Premier League.

Other possible Premier League punishments include a transfer ban, which Chelsea experimented in 2019.

Similarly, spending limits could be imposed on City, who have spent £1.53 billion on players over the last ten years.

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The Manchester club could even face relegation, although former City financial advisor Stefan Borson He explained that this is unlikely.

He told talkSPORT: “There can be no doubt that, if these charges are proven, this will end in at least relegation. “There is the suggestion of a conspiracy over, effectively, a ten-year period.

“If proven, this is very serious. No one would argue with that. The city will say, I promise you, that this is an accusation of the most serious nature.

“It seems to me very unlikely that the alleged conduct took place over a ten-year period with the type of people who are involved in the club and the companies involved.

“It will be a huge call for any court or tribunal to suggest that this number of people have been dishonest and committed perjury.

“That would be a massive call for some KCs and perhaps a former financial director of a football club to make a call not only against city ​​of manchesterbut against numerous executives, against third parties and, of course, against potentially high-ranking members of foreign states.

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In response to this threat, City have launched their own legal challenge against the Premier League – claiming they are victims of “discrimination” by rival clubs.

Citizens are pushing for the removal of rules on associated party transactions (APTs), which they say are “illegal.”

These rules came into effect after the majority acquisition of Newcastle by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund in 2021.

The goal is to maintain competitiveness in the league by preventing clubs from inflating their wealth through sponsorship deals linked to club owners.

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But City, who have dominated English football for the last decade, believe these laws are unfair.

If City's claim is successful, it is likely to have ramifications for his alleged 115 charges with Abu Dhabi-based companies linked to deals with the club.

The club's sponsors currently include Etihad Airways, Etisalat and Experience Abu Dhabi.