Manchester City’s 115 alleged Premier League rule breach case updated with new hearing and verdict date

The date for the hearing into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial rules has now been updated, with a verdict subsequently expected sooner.

The Premier League first issued confirmation that they had charged Manchester City with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules following a four-year investigation in early February 2023.

Having referred the Etihad Stadium club to an independent commission over alleged rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, the Premier League also accused City of not co-operating since the investigation started in December 2018.

In direct response to the matter at the time, Manchester City certainly came out fighting, insisting that not only were they “surprised” by the charges issued towards them, but that they were and continue to be supported by a “body of irrefutable evidence”.

In a statement released by the club at the time of the charges being made public, Etihad Stadium officials said, “Manchester City is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

And that opportunity to put the issue to bed for good could now come sooner than many had expected, with a new report detailing the start date for the independent commission, as well as when a verdict could arrive.

According to the information of The Times’ Martyn Ziegler, the hearing against Manchester City on 115 alleged breaches of Premier League rules is set to start in mid-to-late September, with the outcome subsequently known in early 2025.

It is pointed out that the independent commission had originally been expected to start in November, but ‘sources with knowledge of the case’ have now updated that timescales, unless there are further legal delays.

The hearing has been scheduled to last 10 weeks with the commission members expected to deliver their verdict at the start of 2025. It is pointed out that the Premier League and Manchester City declined to comment and did not respond respectively when approached.

Since then, Manchester City have won a further seven trophies across all competitions, including another two English top-flight titles to become the first club in the history of the competition to win the Premier League in four successive seasons.

Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering squad also claimed a historic Treble, becoming only the second team to do so after Manchester United in 1999, going on to claim the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in light of their European success in the UEFA Champions League.

Many will be intrigued by the prospect of an all-guilty outcome, should that arrive and Manchester City receive defeat to the Premier League on matters, with the commission able to impose punishments ranging from fines and points deductions to competition expulsion.