Manchester City has been found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, covering the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. The league announced on Tuesday that the independent commission had concluded City artificially inflated revenue by more than £900m through “sham” sponsorship deals.
City have kept denying guilt throughout, and they have flagged a plan to lodge an appeal by the end of this week. The process has run on for three years since the club was charged.
A senior figure within football has told BBC Sport there is no reason the case cannot be wrapped up by the end of the season. Speaking without being named, one club official said: “It benefits everyone for this to be resolved as quickly as possible.” A separate source added that the process “should” could be settled by the close of the campaign, with hopes that any appeal would be “compressed”.
The independent commission holds the final say on the matter, with both the Premier League board and City able to recommend an appropriate punishment ahead of the panel’s ruling. A growing wish exists to settle the case by the close of the season, driven by concerns that letting City reach the end of the campaign without any penalty could breed doubt and chaos, especially if they were to take the title.
The Appeal Clock
Ferran Soriano, the club’s chief executive, has suggested the case will run for a long time. The Premier League’s own regulations say an appeal should conclude no more than 12 weeks after it is filed, and a decision should be made within 30 days of its end.
Rushing a process is sometimes necessary when a deadline looms, such as at the close of a league season. The board desires a prompt conclusion. City, however, have indicated the case will take considerable time. These two approaches cannot coexist.
The High Court is where Manchester City might argue that the CAS process was not impartial, even though no further appeal can be made to the Court of Arbitration for Sport itself.
Etihad’s Response
Etihad Airways, which sponsors the club, issued a statement on Wednesday. It “categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements.”
Etihad was not given an opportunity to take part in a process that now reflects “adversely on the airline”, according to the statement. As a result, the club is considering legal action against the Premier League.
A request for comment has reached the Premier League regarding the matter.
What Happens Next
Other clubs have said they want the matter settled quickly, a desire that aligns with what the Premier League’s statement says about its own wish for the process to be “concluded as soon as possible”.
The sequence of events so far:
- City were charged with breaches of Premier League financial regulations
- The independent commission found City guilty of all charges
- City have said they will appeal by the end of this week
- Other clubs want the case resolved by the end of the season
| Party | Position |
|---|---|
| Premier League board | Wants process concluded quickly |
| Manchester City | Denies guilt and will appeal |
| Independent commission | Makes final decision |
| Etihad Airways | Considers legal action |
The Speed Problem
It makes sense to want things to move quickly. A drawn-out case hangs over the game, and the longer it goes on, the more the sport’s standing gets put to the test.
There is a reason the appeal process exists. It is meant to be fair, thorough and prompt. The Premier League’s own rules set a 12-week deadline for appeals to wrap up.
City’s suggestion that the case will run long stands at odds with the board’s desire for a quick resolution. The two positions cannot be reconciled.
What We Know So Far
- City were found guilty of all charges
- The breach period covered 2009-10 to 2017-18
- Revenue was inflated by more than £900m
- City will appeal by the end of this week
- Etihad is considering legal action against the Premier League
City have been charged, and now the case has stretched across three years. If it drags on for another three months, the total will approach five years since the club was charged.
The Premier League board is pushing for a quick resolution, while City have made it plain they intend the case to drag on. City hold the legal right to appeal.
The sooner this is settled, the better.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs Manchester City and is against the Premier League’s decision to find the club guilty of breaching financial regulations, arguing the league’s rulebook is written by the biggest clubs themselves and punishes a team that has denied wrongdoing. The club’s appeal lodged by the end of this week must be heard fully, without the board’s rush to settle the matter by the close of the season.
The paper’s position rests on the fact that the Premier League’s rulebook is written by the biggest clubs themselves, and the decision to punish City comes from a body whose interests are not neutral. When a rulebook is shaped by the very clubs it governs, the paper believes it serves those clubs first.
City’s appeal should proceed on its own terms, not the league’s. The board’s desire for a prompt conclusion should not override the club’s right to a full hearing, even if that means the case runs past the close of the season. The paper will watch the appeal’s progress closely and report on any further developments.
Source material: “Punish Man City this season, say other club chiefs,” the BBC.
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