Stefan Borson: Man City are ‘in the dark’ after 115 charges delay
Manchester City are approaching three years since they were initially handed 115 charges by the Premier League.
Man City were dealt the charges 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.
It has been suggested Man City could receive the verdict during the ongoing international break, but that hasn’t so far proven to be the case.
Man City should have pushed for 115 charges deadline
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the two parties are “in the dark” over when the verdict will be delivered after failing to put deadlines in place.
Man City have shown signs of confidence the decision will go in their favour, but there has been little information revealed to the public about the case.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson said: “It looks to me as if they really have very little control of the process from the panel. They didn’t put in place the sorts of deadlines that maybe they should have done.
“That’s left them very much in the dark as to when the decision is coming, and in that scenario, you have just got to carry on the business because what can you do?
“You can’t just sit around pausing everything. You have to make decisions, make progress and go about your business, so that’s what they’re doing.”
It is believed Man City are spending around £25million in their 115 charges case, with the Premier League’s legal bill expected to be in a similar ballpark.
Man City 115 charges verdict should have been delivered already
Borson admitted it’s unclear why the verdict hasn’t been delivered yet as he discussed the challenges of it being published midway through the season.
“I do think it’s going to be very complicated timing wise to be putting the decision out during the season,” said Borson.
“Also, if you look at it from a timing perspective, you start to put it out in December, we all know that the world slows down mid-December. People go into Christmas mode. And again, this does not feel like something that can be thrown into that mix.
“I mean, ordinarily you would definitely have expected it to be out by now. You definitely would have expected it to be before the end of the year.
“If it doesn’t come in this international break, then honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think there’s any clear understanding as to why it would not be out by now.”
Premier League chair Alison Brittain has previously come under fire for her role in the case, with the top-flight clubs set to vote on whether or not to re-elect her this week.
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