The long-running legal battle between Manchester City and the Premier League over alleged financial rule breaches is set to continue for many more months, with a final outcome unlikely before the end of the current season.
Verdict and Sanctions to be Separated
An independent commission, which finished hearing the monumental case 13 months ago in late 2024, will deliver its initial judgement solely on matters of liability. This means the panel will first rule on whether the club is guilty of any of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League.
Only if charges are upheld will a separate, subsequent hearing be scheduled to determine any punishment. A source familiar with such cases explained the sheer volume and complexity of the allegations made it impossible for both sides to argue liability and sanctions simultaneously during the original hearing.
Contrast with Everton and Forest Cases
This process marks a significant difference from recent Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) cases involving Everton and Nottingham Forest. Both those clubs admitted breaches, allowing their hearings to focus on the extent of the overspend and mitigating factors, with points deductions announced alongside the guilty verdicts.
Manchester City, however, strenuously denies all charges of breaching Financial Fair Play rules. Therefore, the commission's primary task is to establish guilt or innocence across the vast catalogue of allegations before any discussion of sanctions can begin.
Lengthy Road Ahead with Appeal Likely
The prospect of a second hearing means the saga, which began when City were charged over three years ago, will almost certainly drag on beyond this campaign's conclusion. Furthermore, the club retains the right to appeal both the verdict and any sanctions imposed.
Any appeal would most likely follow a sanctions hearing, unless City's legal team identifies clear errors in law in the initial judgement. The only scenario for a quicker resolution would be a negotiated settlement between the club and the Premier League, which remains a possibility.
The complexity is underscored by the recent Lucas Paqueta case, where a verdict on FA charges took three extra months to finalise after the initial hearing. Given the scale of the City case, it is impossible to predict when a sanctions hearing might occur.
