Beshr Olaiwi

Sep 16, 2024

Man City, EPL Go Head-to-Head In Court Over FFP Breach

Beshr Olaiwi
Beshr Olaiwi

Image: Sky Sports

Manchester City is set to face the English Premier League for allegedly breaching the financial fair play rules in court today. 

City face 115 charges, beginning from 2009 to 2018, however; the club deny all charges stating they possess “a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence.”

The Premier League has accused the club of multiple breaches of failure to comply with providing financial statements, misaligning with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP).

After the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover, the club managed to win eight league titles, multiple domestic cups, and a Champions League trophy in 2023. 

Pep Guardiola, Man City Head Coach said, “It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon.”

“I’m happy it’s starting on Monday. I know there will be more rumors and new specialists about the sentences. We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, and what I have read for many, many years,” he added.

The Spaniard emphasized that “everybody is innocent until guilt is proven.” 

The Charges:

  • 54x Failure to provide accurate financial information 2009-10 to 2017-18. 
  • 14x Failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18. 
  • 5x Failure to comply with UEFA’s rules, including Financial Fair Play (FFP) 2013-14 to 2017-18.
  • 7x Breaching Premier League’s PSR rules 2015-16 to 2017-18. 
  • 35x Failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations December 2018-February 2023. 

Costing an estimate of over ten million pounds, the case has been built up over the course of six years.

Multiple reports suggest that the case will last around 10 weeks, with a decision to be taken by the court around early 2025.

Cases of this nature cannot be appealed in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), however, either side can appeal for a fresh hearing with a new independent panel arranged.

The 20 clubs that make up the league would have to split any expenses that the Premier League paid at the conclusion of the City lawsuit.

The Citizens’ legal team is led by Lord Pannick KC, who helped overturn the two-year European ban in 2020.

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