The independent hearing into Manchester City’s alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations finally began on Monday.
ESPN previously reported the trial would begin on Monday, with the hearing dubbed by British media as the “sports trial of the century.” It is expected to last for around two months. The aim is for the final verdict, including any appeal, to be completed by the end of the 2024-25 season
City, who have won the English title a record four times in a row, were referred to an independent commission in February 2023, with the various charges dating from 2009 to 2018. The club have always denied any wrongdoing.
Should City be found guilty of some or all of the charges they could face penalties or huge fines, points deductions or even relegation from the Premier League.
That would also put a huge asterisk over one of the most successful periods of any club in English history.
City have won eight Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups, six League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup since being bought by Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008.
On Friday, manager Pep Guardiola welcomed the start of the trial, saying that City are innocent until proven guilty.
“It starts soon and then [hopefully] finishes soon. An independent panel will decide, and I am looking forward to the decision,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“We’re going to see. I know what people are looking forward to, what they expect, I know, what I read for many, many years.
“I am not a lawyer. [Striker] Erling [Haaland] is not a lawyer. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
The charges City face include failing to provide accurate financial information; failing to provide full disclosure about player and manager remuneration; breaches of Premier League and UEFA financial fair play regulations; and a failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
It is not the first time City have found themselves in the dock over alleged financial infringements.
In 2020, they were banned from the Champions League for two years by UEFA for overstating sponsorship revenue between 2012 and 2016, but they successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
City said at the time of the referral to the Premier League’s independent commission that they were surprised by the league’s “issuing of these alleged breaches.”
With the hearing, which will be conducted privately, starting and likely to continue for many weeks, it will inevitably put a cloud over the Premier League season as City go for a fifth title in succession.
Whatever the verdict, either side could appeal, threatening to drag the process into early summer in 2025.
Everton and Nottingham Forest had points deducted last season for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, although Leicester City avoided a similar fate after winning an appeal against the Premier League.