Man City 115 charges: Premier League will make ‘huge’ payout – Keith Wyness
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed the Premier League legal budget will be “five or six times” higher than usual as they fight Man City in their 115 charges hearing.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the English champions have “lawyered up to an incredible degree” and will have an “all-star team” fighting their corner.
According to the Daily Mail (4 September), the Premier League could be hit with a legal bill of tens of millions for their case with Man City even if they emerge victorious.
The league and City will fight behind closed doors this month in the much-anticipated hearing into 115 alleged breaches of financial rules.
Lord Pannick KC, who has represented the English champions in previous fights with Uefa, will lead City’s case as part of an elite legal team.
Premier League legal budget will be ‘five or six times’ higher due to Man City case, says Wyness
Wyness claimed the Premier League could have avoided the eye-watering outlay by pushing to find a solution before the case went before an independent commission.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s going to be a huge number for the Premier League.
“We know that Man City have lawyered up to an incredible degree.
“They’ve got an all-star team of King’s Councils working for them and the Premier League have got to have something similar in kind.
“All that money is coming from the 20 shareholders who make up the league, the sponsorships of the league.
“We’re now seeing something like five or six times the normal budget for legal fees due to this Man City case.
“They’ve got to maintain the rules, but to get involved in such a cost without finding a solution before this case is hard to take.
“There must have been a more cost-effective way to find a solution, and I’m yet to hear about how the Premier League have tried to find a way through this.
“It’s going to be a big cheque coming up from the league.”
In other news, 30-year-old makes decision on quitting City for Saudi club.
For more Man City and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.