Man City will have to face the music! The Premier League has set a date for the ‘trial of the century’ over 115 FFP violations,

The date for the trial over Manchester City’s alleged breaches of 115 Financial Fair Play rules has been set.

• Man City FFP breach trial date set

• Trial to begin in late autumn in 2024

• City and Premier League stay tight lipped

WHAT HAPPENED?

The allegations were brought against City earlier this year following a five-year probe into purported financial regulation violations. Since the allegations were announced back in February, the Premier League and City have both kept quiet about the matter. However, theThe Daily Mail has revealed that a hearing date for the lawsuit has been scheduled for late autumn of 2024.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

City are accused of breaching 115 regulations over the course of 14 seasons from the start of the 2009/2010 campaign. Among these are allegations of falsified financial reporting and noncompliance with the Premier League’s probe. The champions have refuted any wrongdoing, and manager Guardiola has recently taken aim at those who demand punishment for City. Furthermore, the Spaniard maintained that he would stay at the Etihad Stadium even if City was proven guilty of the accusations.

DID YOU KNOW

While the reports on the Citizens’ breaches had cooled down significantly, the issue was pulled back into the limelight after their fellow Premier League side Everton were hit with a 10-point deduction for the current season, after an independent panel found them guilty of breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The deduction saw fanbases enraged as they felt that the defending champions’ case had not been dealt with with as much urgency by the Premier League as they had shown in the Toffees’ case.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE TRIAL?

According to the Mail, a resolution may not be reached until the end of the following season, when Guardiola’s current contract is slated to expire. It is understood that the procedure, which has been kept exceedingly confidential thus far, is currently in the phase of obtaining witness statements, which will most likely last until the spring of next year.

If the trial progresses as planned, a decision is expected in the summer of 2025. Delays, on the other hand, may cause the procedure to take longer. It is inconceivable to imagine a scenario in which City would not file an appeal if any party found the final judgment objectionable. A circumstance like that would prolong the procedure even more.

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