City, who deny any wrongdoing, could face a heavy points deduction or even relegation if the more serious allegations are proven. In that case, the club will almost certainly appeal, which could take six to eight months, according to the legal source.
If a sanction such as demotion is imposed, the panel may allow the punishment to be deferred until the outcome of an appeal. That wasn't the case with Everton's initial ten-point deduction last season for breaching profitability and sustainability rules; the sanction remained in effect until it was reduced to six points on appeal.
The Premier League's investigation into City has been going on for five years and the legal costs for both sides are expected to be enormous. The Premier League incurred legal costs of £48.1 million last season – six times the amount it had budgeted for – with a large amount relating to this case and City's legal challenge to the associated party transaction rules.
City's alleged breaches of the rules include failing to provide accurate financial information for nine separate seasons, failing to provide full details of manager Roberto Mancini's salary over the four seasons he was at the club from 2009 to 2013, and failing to provide full details of players' pay – including former midfielder Yaya Toure – for six seasons from 2010-11 to 2015-16.
City have also been accused of failing to cooperate with an investigation and hand over documents as required over five seasons, from 2018-19 to 2022-23.
The club have insisted they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their case.
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