Manchester City’s sanction over 115 Premier League champions anticipated by ‘some with knowledge of the situation’ | OneFootball

The sanctions that Manchester City could face in connection with their 115 charges issued by the Premier League in 2023 have been tipped in a new report.

The hearing into the matter of the elusive 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules began in mid-September, after City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.

It was alleged at the time that Manchester City had breached the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018, while the club themselves strongly denied all charges and insisted that their own case is supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”.

From the side of the Premier League, they claim that City have breached rules requiring the club to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”, whilst also accusing the club of not co-operating.

Speaking in light of the ongoing situation, Pep Guardiola told a media conference last September that he believes people within football want to see Manchester City wiped “off the face of the Earth”.

“I’m sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not [only] to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world – that we have better afternoons than the opponents. That’s why we win a lot,” Guardiola said.

But a new report has revealed that the sanctions that could face Manchester City may be far from serious, with a verdict on the matter expected in the coming weeks and months following the conclusion of a court battle in London.

As included in a wider report from The Athletic’s Sam Lee, while ‘nobody knows for sure’ at present what the future holds for Manchester City, and with a verdict on the 115 charges case expected in March 2025, a possible sanction has already been put forward.

The report details that while City themselves have always been confident, some ‘with knowledge of the situation’ and ‘speaking anonymously to protect relationships’ think that the sanction the reigning Premier League champions face will ‘not be more serious than a fine’.

The Premier League themselves have remained largely tight-lipped on the matter since it reached an independent commission last year, although CEO Richard Masters was quizzed on various aspects of the case during public appearances.

In an interview with BBC Sport last summer, Masters insisted upon his belief that it was then time for “the case to resolve itself”, but on whether it cast a shadow over the Premier League, he responded, “It’s been going on for a number of years and I think it’s self-evident that the case needs to be heard and answered.”

Masters continued in the same interview, “When the case has been heard there will be a decision published and all the questions you would like me to answer will be answered as part of that process.”

Further pressed for answers surrounding the secrecy that has shrouded the situation, he explained, “Quite simply, it’s not within our rules to be able to do so. What we do is we publish charges when they are made and we publish decisions when they are made.

“The bit in between is managed by an independent panel and they’re very clear that they want that process to be confidential.”

Manchester City continue to act as business as usual, spending over £100 million in the ongoing January transfer market at the halfway stage, extending Pep Guardiola’s contract by two years, and agreeing a new 10-year deal with Erling Haaland this week.