The Situation at Manchester City Explained
The Premier League’s release yesterday about Manchester City’s alleged financial rule breaches sent shockwaves throughout the world of football. With over 100 breaches reported between the years of 2009 and 2018, it’s a complex and difficult situation to sum up.
The Premier League launched the investigation in 2018 after receiving information about potential rule breaches by the club. The charges are not just about how much money was spent in the transfer market and on players, but they go back many years and paint a bigger picture.
One of the charges against Manchester City is that they failed to provide the necessary information to support the investigation. An independent commission will be formed of three people from the 15 members of the Premier League, or potentially some non-members, and they will decide the outcome of the case.
The commission’s decision is not expected to come anytime soon, as the investigation took over four years to reach its findings. Manchester City has the best lawyers, paid millions of pounds, who will be going through the investigation line by line to determine their position in relation to each charge.
In the short term, the situation will not have an immediate impact on points deductions or transfer embargoes. However, it may affect the players’ mentality and mindset, and whether they let something like this linger in the background.
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has previously expressed his comfort and trust in the club’s board and owners. However, if the findings of the investigation do not go in City’s favor, the potential punishments could range from severe to minor.
Some of the punishments include suspensions from playing league matches, points deductions, cancellation or refusal of player registration, and financial penalties. The punishment, or combination of punishments, will be determined after the commission delivers its findings, which will be posted on their website.
If the outcome of the investigation does not go in Manchester City’s favor, the club could turn to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, the Premier League does not have a statue of limitations like UEFA, which limits the availability of evidence to five years. The Premier League can investigate as far back as they wish, making a potential appeal to CAS a difficult route for Manchester City.
The situation involving Manchester City’s alleged financial rule breaches is a complicated one that will take time to resolve. The outcome of the independent commission’s findings will have a significant impact on the club, and the potential punishments could range from severe to minor.
While the club and its fans hope for a positive outcome, they must prepare for the possibility of a negative one and the impact it may have on the club’s future. Regardless of the outcome, this situation serves as a reminder of the importance of following financial rules and regulations in professional sports.
