In the lead-up to Manchester City’s clash with Liverpool, fresh insights surfaced concerning the expected decision on City’s alleged extensive breaches of financial misconduct. Since February 2023, the club has vehemently maintained its innocence against Premier League claims of serious financial rule violations spanning from 2009-2018.
The issue reached a climax from September to December last year during a tribunal overseen by an independent commission in London. Currently, a three-person panel is meticulously reviewing evidence, with anticipation building for a verdict within the next few months.
It’s a situation being watched with a keen eye by every other Premier League clubs – and the wider world of football. Newcastle United are taking a keen interest in proceedings, having aligned themselves closely with City over a number of subjects recently, particularly associated party transaction (APT).
Respected sports journalist David Ornstein has provided a timely update: “It’s just over two years ago since those charges and the feeling I get from speaking to people at and around the club is that we could be looking at a springtime verdict. So, maybe a month or two away and that feels pretty soon,” he disclosed to NBC Sports ahead of Sunday’s fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
While recognising the possibility of further appeals, Ornstein underscored the magnitude of the impending decision: “Of course this is still subject to potential appeals in that process too, but the verdict would feel like a seismic moment whatever the outcome.”
Pundits speculate that a ruling against City might result in severe sanctions, including title stripping, hefty point penalties, or even demotion from the Premier League. Yet, Ornstein also highlighted that conversations from Manchester City’s camp suggest a steadfast conviction in their total innocence, reports Football London.
“The important point to say from City’s perspective is that they are totally confident that they will be exonerated and prove their innocence, so they’re operating as usual,” he added.
“We saw them do a lot of business in the January transfer window. None of that business, to my knowledge, was to pre-empt potential punishment because they don’t think they are going to be punished for these alleged breaches.
“In the contract negotiations they’ve been holding in recent years, the transfer talks that have taken place, no clauses have been inserted into those deals to say ‘if City are punished, this is going to happen’. Players want to join Manchester City and they are continuing with everything that they are doing.
“It had no impact on Pep Guardiola signing a new contract in autumn, on Erling Haaland in the story I broke in January, on Txiki Begiristain’s decision to leave the club as sporting director – that was long-planned, or Hugo Viana’s decision to replace him.
“They think that they are going to be fined [at most], let’s see how it materialises.”
Newcastle and City have emerged as allies in recent times off the pitch, at least. The clubs have repeatedly voted against associated party transaction (APT) regulations, with Newcastle providing a written statement in support of Manchester City and gave a witness testimony when the champions launched a legal fight against these rules.
City have now launched a fresh legal battle against APT rules which PiF and the Newcastle ownership group will be watching on with interest while the result of the 115 charges is awaited.
Newcastle are believed to be considering whether they could have a ‘pretty strong claim for compensation’ after a tribunal panel found that the original APT rules were ‘void and unenforceable’.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fined-man-city-115-charges-31064927
