September 16 – The biggest challenge to Manchester City’s Premier League dominance began today at the so-called football trial of the century into 115 alleged financial breaches.
City’s reputation will be on the line when the independent hearing begins with manager Pep Guardiola insisting the club are innocent until proved guilty and urging fairness.
A three-person commission will sift through reams of evidence for an estimated 10 weeks with a verdict expected some time before the end of the current season.
City, who have eight Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups, six League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup since being bought by Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, have always denied any wrongdoing. But if found guilty of some or all of the charges could face points deductions or even demotion from the Premier League.
Guardiola welcomed the start of the trial, saying before the weekend: “It starts soon and then (hopefully) finishes soon. An independent panel will decide and I am looking forward to the decision.”
“I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I read for many, many years. I am not a lawyer. (Striker) Erling (Haaland) is not a lawyer. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
The charges City face include failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to provide full disclosure about player and manager remuneration; breaches of Premier League and UEFA financial fair play regulations and a failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
It is not the first time City have found themselves in the dock over alleged financial infringements.
In 2020, they were banned from the Champions League for two years by UEFA for overstating sponsorship revenue between 2012 and 2016 but successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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