Manchester City will probably not receive any sanctions when the first judgment on their alleged violation of 130 (initially 115) of the financial rules of the Premier League is returned, according to a new interview with CEO Richard Masters.
The serial winners of the Premier League are accused by the organization of multiple infringements of their financial regulations, and also failed to collaborate with a subsequent investigation.
The alleged infringements date from a period of nine years between 2009 and 2018 and were first unveiled by the League in a statement in February 2023.
If the city is found guilty of some of the more serious costs, they can be affected with enormous financial fines, points deduction or even relegation.
Man City is avid in their denial of the alleged infringements, and a disciplinary panel heard evidence between the two parties in late autumn, with a procedure concluded in December last year.
In an interview with Masters who was given to the Financial Times, it was emphasized that the verdict could be announced at any time before the end of the season.
But the outlet also explained that the independent panel itself would not decide on any sanctions that the club could receive.
Instead, this would include a separate process that can be subjected to a profession by Man City or the Premier League – just like the first judgment itself.
This may mean that any potential punishment with which the Treble winners of 2023 can be confronted is only applied for a while – or even after – next season.
In the interview, Masters could only notice that 'literally cannot say a word' about the current procedure.
The four-in-a-Row champions are accused of not reporting accurate financial information for nine seasons that extend from 2009-10 to 2017-18, and not providing full details of the wages of former manager Roberto Mancini between 2009-10 and 2012-13.
They would also not have provided full details of funds that were paid to players between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and not collaborate with the probe from 2018 to 2023.
That research, inspired by hacked material published in German media, has caused astronomical legal costs for the competition that have expressed concern to some of its clubs.
The senior lawyer of the competition is Adam Lewis KC, while Lord Pannick leads the defense of the city, with both legal representatives from Blackstone Chambers.
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