The “trial of the century” will begin this Monday, before a verdict, expected for the beginning of next year, which could give rise to a real earthquake. It pits the English giant Manchester City against the Premier League, which accuses it of possible financial malfeasance between 2009 and 2018. Concretely, the club faces 115 indictments: 80 financial offenses (period 2009-2018) and 35 additional ones for an alleged lack of cooperation in the investigation.
The English club and the Premier League, the organizer of the championship, are expected before an independent commission which will hear them this Monday, revealed several British media outlets on Thursday, a date confirmed the following day, Friday, by Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City coach, in a press conference.
“I am happy that it starts on Monday. I know there will be other rumours, new specialists regarding sanctions. We will see,” said the Spanish coach, who seemed relieved that the wait was over and that the club, which says it has irrefutable proof of its innocence, can defend itself.
The discussions are expected to last two months, with a verdict expected in early 2025. The possibility of an appeal pushes the epilogue back to several weeks, or even months.
According to the Premier League, the “Citizens” would have breached the League’s regulations requiring the provision “in good faith” of “accurate financial information giving a true and fair view of the financial position of the club”, bought in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) consortium, owned by Sheikh Mansour.
“I know what people expect”
The holding company is suspected of having hidden direct financial investments by inflating sponsorship revenues from Etihad, the Emirati airline and main partner of the club (shirt sponsor and stadium naming), in order to circumvent the rules.
“I know what people expect, I know it, having read it for many, many years,” Guardiola said, attributing to the majority of the English public the desire to see Manchester City receive a heavy sanction.
Under Premier League rules, the four-time English champions could, for example, face a points deduction or even be banned from the league if they are found guilty of all or some of the 115 charges against them.
“It (the hearing, editor’s note) starts soon, I hope it ends soon. The independent commission will make its decision and I look forward to it,” Guardiola said, repeating as he often does that “everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
The Spanish coach, whose contract ends at the end of the season, assured that the “sporting trial of the century”, as the British press has dubbed it, was not a topic of discussion in the locker room.
“No, I said it, we are not lawyers. Erling (Haaland) is not a lawyer. We are not talking about that,” he assured. “It is something independent and we will accept the decision. There are many lawyers in this country and in Spain.”
- RMC Sport
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