Man City vs Prem trial date agreed over 115 charges and when verdicts expected
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Premier League champions Manchester City are reportedly expected to go to trial for their 115 alleged breaches of FFP laws in 'late autumn' 2024.
That's according to the Daily Mail, which reported a tentative date has been set for City's showdown with an independent panel. In what promises to be a watershed moment for English football, the Abu Dhabi-owned superpower will have to provide answers relating to the 115 breaches that purportedly occurred between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.
Fans have been critical over the delay as to why City haven't been taken to trial sooner given the extent of their alleged crimes. And that pressure has escalated since Everton were deducted a record 10 Premier League points for one charge of overspending between the 2018/19 and 2021/22 campaigns.
READ MORE: Man City charged with Premier League FFP breaches and 'could face points deduction'
READ MORE: Jamie Carragher says treble 'all worthless' if Man City found guilty of 115 FFP charges
The Daily Mail indicated the investigation is now gathering witness statements from those relevant to the case of City's offences. And it's understood it could remain at that stage until spring 2024.
However, anyone expecting a swift decision over City's fate may be disappointed. In fact, a final verdict may not be made public until the end of the 2024/25 season.
Do you think Man City should be stripped of their titles if found guilty of their charges? Let us know in the comments section below.
And that's assuming the court date goes ahead on schedule without any postponements, and then there are the inevitable appeals to take into account once an initial decision is made. It's all but certain City would pursue further litigation in the event the independent panel arrived at a conclusion the club considered unfair.
However, it's already been confirmed the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will not be an avenue for appeal on this occasion. City previously had a two-year ban from European competition successfully overturned by the CAS in 2020 after UEFA charged the club with breaching its FFP laws.
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City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak delivered a lesson in 'whataboutism' when the topic of his side's extensive charges was brought up in the wake of last season's treble. And he said the first-time Champions League-winners should be judged only by their on-field achievements.
"Of course, I mean, it's very frustrating, because it takes so much from the great work that's happening at this club – and it's happening not just on the football pitch," commented Al Mubarak. "The football pitch – we talked about that, what these players have achieved this year, the Treble, is incredible.
"I hope people focus and judge them for their football and what they're achieving on the pitch – and what they're achieving in every competition they're in. That's the reality."
The charges against City relate to concerns around the club's financial reporting, the legitimacy of sponsorships and origins of funding. The club have also been accused of refusing to co-operate with investigators, though City have long denied any wrongdoing since the case was first opened in 2018.
Many are expecting serious punishment given Everton were handed a double-digit points penalty for spending a little less than £20million over their budget across a three-year span. The nature of City's finances has been heavily scrutinised since the Abu Dhabi-owned City Football Group bought the club in 2008, ushering in a unprecedented era of success.
- Premier League
- Manchester City FC
- Everton FC
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