Starting on September 16, the hearing into City’s alleged violations of Premier League rules is expected to stretch for almost two months.
The charges cover a 14-season span beginning in 2009–10 and include a number of different alleged rule violations, all of which City vehemently deny.
The Premier League champions have been charged with failing to provide accurate information, failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR), failing to comply with UEFA regulations including financial fair play (FFP) and failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
City claim they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their defence, with the matter now set to be settled by an independent panel.
While the hearing is due to begin a matter of days, a final verdict – including any potential appeal – is not expected to be reached until after the end of the 2024/25 season.
Concerns have been raised ahead of the start of the hearing over the potential legal bill the Premier League could be left with – regardless of the outcome of the case.
The Daily Mail report that the League could be left with a bill totalling ‘tens of millions’ even if it wins its case against City.
It comes after a commission and appeal board ruled the Premier League was liable for a significant percentage of the legal fees for their dispute with Everton.
Officials had attempted to force Everton to pay the full £4.9m bill for the PSR case which saw the Merseyside club deducted 10 points, which were later reduced to six on appeal.
However, it has now been ruled that Everton are liable for only around a third of the fee at £1.7m, with the Premier League forced to cover the remaining £3.2m.
That has raised concerns the League could be made to pay a much higher fee once the case with City is finally completed.
The Everton ruling has ‘triggered major concerns’ among some Premier League clubs ahead of City’s hearing, according to the Daily Mail.
The legal costs surrounding City’s case are reported to have already ‘entered the territory of tens of millions and will continue to rise’.
