Man City game-changer after Erling Haaland’s 115 charges reveal
Manchester City could be set to receive a major boost after Erling Haaland’s 115 charges reveal.
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.
They 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.
There has so far been little information provided about when the decision could be revealed, leading to concerns among Premier League clubs about how long the case could drag on.
Football Insider revealed on 23 July Man City are “confident” in their 115 charges case after agreeing a lucrative new sponsorship deal with Puma.
Pep Guardiola’s side extended their partnership with the German kit manufacturer for a further 10 years earlier this month, with the contract reportedly worth a minimum of £1billion.
Erling Haaland makes 115 charges claim after agreeing Man City deal
It’s been business as usual for the 10-time English champions despite the ongoing legal action behind the scenes.
Man City have spent around £150million on new signings this summer, with Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Sverre Nypan and James Trafford all making the move to the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola and Haaland also signed new contracts midway through last season as they continue to show their commitment to the club despite the charges.
Haaland agreed a record-breaking Premier League deal until 2034, having spent three successful years with Man City since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 for £51million.
In an interview with TIME magazine on 31 July, the Norway international revealed he spoke to club chiefs about the charges before penning his new deal.
“I spoke with the bosses, and in the end, I believe them,” said Haaland.
“It’s such a tricky situation for me to even sit there and speak about, because I wasn’t really involved in it. So I think the club knows what they’re doing. They will sort it out.”
Man City confident in 115 charges case
Man City have shown several signs of confidence in the 115 charges case, and Haaland’s comments certainly suggest they believe they will prevail.
The 25-year-old simply wouldn’t have committed his prime years – and pretty much the rest of his career – to the club without certain assurances.
While the star forward would have many interested suitors, there are very few clubs that would be able to take on his reported £525,000-a-week salary if the Manchester giants were hit with serious sanctions.
It will be a major blow for the Premier League if Man City escape the charges without a significant punishment after putting so much time and money into the case over the past couple of years.
Haaland and his Man City teammates are now gearing up for the start of the new season, with their opening game coming against Wolves at Molineux on 16 August.
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