The serious punishment Man City could face if found guilty of 115 breaches of Premier League rules

Manchester City could face severe repercussions if found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations. Reports suggest that the hearing for the 115 alleged breaches, scheduled to start on September 16, will be a critical moment for the club.

The Premier League’s charges, announced in February 2023, stem from an investigation into City’s financial practices over nine years, between 2009 and 2018. These charges include allegations of providing inaccurate financial information, concealing former manager Roberto Mancini’s full salary, and not fully disclosing players’ remuneration, including Yaya Toure’s, over several seasons. Additionally, City is accused of failing to cooperate with the investigation and withholding requested documents.

The investigation was triggered by the release of the Football Leaks documents by Der Spiegel in 2018, which contained evidence suggesting that City’s owners directly paid sponsorship funds, a potential breach of financial regulations.

Should the allegations be proven, the severity and scope of the breaches could result in Manchester City’s relegation from the Premier League, a historic and devastating consequence for one of England’s most successful clubs.

This isn’t the first time City has faced such scrutiny. In 2020, UEFA imposed a two-year ban on City from European competitions for similar financial irregularities. However, the ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which found that many of the allegations were time-barred or unsubstantiated. Unlike UEFA, the Premier League hearing can address these time-barred issues, making the upcoming proceedings potentially more consequential.

The hearing is expected to last about ten weeks, with a verdict likely in early 2025. Additionally, City is awaiting the outcome of a separate legal case involving associated party transaction rules, which is expected to be resolved in the next two weeks. The result of these legal battles could significantly impact the future of Manchester City.