It’s the trial that could change the face of English football, and it all gets underway today. Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions and undoubtedly one of the powerhouses of the global game, will answer 115 charges of allegedly breaking the financial rules of the competition they’ve made their own.
The trial will take place at an unknown location, with authorities clearly intent on avoiding the media scramble that would accompany the confirmation of a venue.
The independent hearing, widely dubbed the ‘trial of the century’, is expected to last around 10 weeks with a final verdict not expected until early 2025.
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What seasons are the charges from?
Specifying the era in which these alleged misdemeanours took place is anything but straightforward. The charges are spread over 14 years, ranging from 2009, a year when Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as manager, right through to 2023 when Pep Guardiola finally landed the Champions League crown the club craved.
During that period, City celebrated seven Premier League titles, not to mention three FA Cup and six League Cup trophies. Then of course, an unprecedented era of glory was capped by the 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul, that saw City land Europe’s top prize for the first time in their history.
What do the charges relate to?
The 115 charges are split into five different categories. The most significant relates to providing accurate financial information from 2009/10 to 2017/18, with City having to answer to 54 alleged breaches.
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There are also 14 charges of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from the period of 2009/10 to 2017/18. The remainder includes five charges of failure to comply with UEFA regulations, including Financial Fair Play (FFP), from 2013/14 to 2017/18, and seven charges of breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR) from 2015/16 to 2017/18.
The most belated charges run from December 2018 to February 2023. City allegedly failed to co-operate with Premier League investigations on no fewer than 35 occasions.
What are the potential punishments?
Contrary to belief, Brendan Rodgers will not be excitedly calling the likes of Joe Allen and Simon Mignolet to laud their contribution to Liverpool's 2013/14 Premier League title win as City will not be stripped of previous honours. And nor will Jose Mourinho be quipping about title ‘number four’ in England after United finished second to City in 2017/18.
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But if the charges are proven, the independent commission hearing the case will essentially have unlimited powers when it comes to dishing out the punishments. And their sanctions could dramatically alter the outlook of the English game.
Penalties are likely to fluctuate between heavy fines and points deductions. Although City’s trophy cabinet is set to remain untouched, the worst case scenario could see them relegated or expelled from the Premier League, raising the prospect of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Harland trying to unlock defences in Swansea and Plymouth next season.
Inevitably, the club have assembled a powerful legal team to fight the charges, with every loophole or favourable regulation expected to be exploited to the maximum. Whether it’s rivals crowing at their demise or seething at their unjust acquittal, the outcome of all charges will prompt a fallout in time that will long exceed the length of the trial itself.
Buckle up. An almighty mess awaits.
