Manchester City could learn the outcome of their 115 Premier League charges at the end of January, but a final decision is unlikely to be made until after the end of the season.
Appeals are expected regardless of how a three-member independent commission rules, with the case not expected to be resolved until the summer.
City denies all charges – relating to alleged breaches of financial fair play between 2009 and 2018 and refusal to cooperate with an investigation – and are confident they will be acquitted.
The final arguments were heard at the International Dispute Resolution Center on Friday, ending the hearing that began on September 16. And the panel is now deliberating on their ruling, which will be announced in late January or early February.
City head coach Pep Guardiola has welcomed the case, saying it will ultimately lift the cloud hanging over their performances in recent years.
When asked in September whether the team had discussed the charges, he replied: “No. We are not lawyers. Erling [Haaland] is not a lawyer, no. We haven't talked about that. What's going to happen, the independent panel, and we're going to accept the verdict.
“I'm glad it's starting. I know there will be more rumors, new specialists about the punishments. We'll see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I've been reading for years. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. So we'll see.”
Guardiola has since signed a contract extension with the club but has seen injury-hit City struggle to win games.
They are eight points behind leaders Liverpool and an extra match will be played in the Manchester derby on Sunday. Before that, City will face Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, requiring a win to return to the top eight of the standings.
Since Sheikh Mansour's seismic takeover in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, six League Cups, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. If found guilty of the charges, their punishment could range from a fine to expulsion from the Premier League.
Comments