Exclusive: Premier League concern emerges after Man City 115 charges latest
Premier League club chiefs are concerned about rising legal fees as they push for the verdict to be delivered in Manchester City’s 115 charges case, sources have told Football Insider.
Man City were dealt the charges by the Premier League in February 2023 for allegedly breaching the financial fair play (FFP) rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.
Pep Guardiola’s side are alleged to have concealed payments through third parties by disguising them as sponsorship revenue.
An independent commission hearing started in September last year and ended in December, with the panel still considering its verdict.
Sources have told Football Insider the Premier League has come under pressure from other top-flight clubs, who are concerned over the rising legal fees if Man City’s case isn’t resolved soon.
Man City could receive 115 charges verdict within days
There have been reports over the past few days suggesting the panel could deliver its decision this month.
Finance expert Stefan Borson told Football Insider Man City are likely to receive the verdict this week or in the next international break in November.
“Everybody expects the most likely window is now, and particularly if it could be within an international break, I think that’s really a combination of the sort of practicality of it coming in the international break, either this one or the next one,” said Borson.
“But moreover, just the fact that the panel has had 10 months to write up its decision. While it could easily be more in sort of the court system, this is not an arbitration, it’s a disciplinary, but it’s a privately paid for panel, you would think that they should be able to do that in this timescale.”
In terms of the legal fees involved, The Times reported on 5 August senior figures in football have been told the cost to both sides of the Premier League’s case against Man City may have topped £200million over the past five years.
However, Borson previously told Football Insider Man City are spending around £25m in their 115 charges case, with the Premier League’s legal bill expected to be in a similar ballpark.
Man City to agree huge deal after Premier League setttlement
In a separate issue, Man City have been in a battle with the Premier League over the past year regarding the associated party transaction (APT) rules.
The Manchester giants successfully challenged the APT rules following a two-week private arbitration hearing in the summer of 2024, with the tribunal ruling the regulations in place were unlawful last October.
Following amendments by the Premier League, Guardiola’s side challenged the APT rules again in February this year.
However, Man City have now reached a settlement with the Premier League, with the club in line to complete a lucrative long-term deal with Etihad Airways as a result.
The deal with the state-owned Abu-Dhabi airline was blocked in 2023 for not being fair-market value under the APT rules.
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