:quality(70):focal(2686x2189:2696x2199)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/liberation/TYNUYYURSRGN5G24TKLV5CJRS4.jpg?w=1240&resize=1240,&ssl=1)
Accustomed to shocks on the green rectangle, here is <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2022/01/premier-league-manchester-citys-turnover-for-the-first-time-higher-than-manchester-uniteds/" title="Premier League – Manchester City's turnover for the first time higher than Manchester United's”>Manchester City engaged in another major face-to-face, legal this time and against the Premier League. The ogre of the English championship and giant of Europe must respond from this Monday, September 16 to accusations of financial embezzlement that emerged after the arrival of the Emirati owner in 2008, in what the British press describes as “trial of the century”. “I’m happy it starts on Monday.”commented on Friday Pep Guardiola, the multi-titled coach of the English juggernaut. Before getting ironic: “I know there will be other rumors, new specialists regarding sanctions.”
The Premier League, organizer of the most followed championship in the world, believes that Manchester City knowingly circumvented the financial rules imposed between 2009 and 2018 to boost its sporting ambitions. During this interval, the “Citizens” won the championship three times. They subsequently collected multiple titles, in England and in Europe, including the Champions League in 2023.
After building its accusation, the Premier League referred the club from the north of England to an independent commission in February 2023. She went through this millefeuille before being able to begin the hearing of the two camps, Monday behind closed doors, in an unknown location.
In total, 115 charges weigh against the Mancunian club: 80 financial offenses (period 2009-2018) and 35 additional for an alleged lack of cooperation in the investigation. Concretely, Manchester City is accused of having circumvented the financial regulations of the English league following its takeover in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) consortium, owned by Sheikh Mansour.
House clos
The holding company is notably suspected of having invested massively, beyond the imposed limits, by secretly passing its money via Etihad, the Emirati airline partner of the club (shirt sponsor and naming of the stadium). She also allegedly paid undeclared salary supplements to Roberto Mancini, one of the former coaches, and to certain players. Manchester City must also answer for alleged violations of financial fair play by UEFA (period 2013-2018) and the Premier League (2015-2018).
The legal battle is expected to last ten weeks and the verdict will be delivered in January or February at the earliest. However, there is no judge or jury, but rather the closed doors of an independent commission supposed to collect the words of both camps for several weeks, before rendering its decision in early 2025, according to the most optimistic estimates. The sanctions, if any, can go as far as a withdrawal of points, or even exclusion from the English championship, of which City has won six of the last seven editions. The possibility of an appeal, from the club or the Premier League, may postpone the epilogue for several weeks, or even several months.
