- Man City could face fines, points deductions or even relegation following the ruling
- The Premier League accused the champions of breaching financial rules
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Pep Guardiola has claimed Manchester City could hear the verdict from their landmark hearing as early as February.
Mail Sport exclusively revealed that the hearing on the Premier League’s 130 (originally 115) charges against City ended on 6 December.
The Premier League has accused its champions of multiple breaches of financial regulations and of failing to co-operate with a subsequent investigation.
Should City, who strongly deny any wrongdoing, be found guilty of any of the more serious allegations, they could face huge financial penalties, points deductions or even relegation.
And Guardiola expects the club to have clarity in the near future.
Asked if players might be hesitant to join City, he said: ‘I don’t know. It will happen in winter time.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City expect a verdict on their 130 allegations this winter
The hearing into the Premier League’s allegations against City ended earlier this month
The Premier League charged the perennial champions with 115 financial breaches, later increased to 130
‘I don’t know what will happen. I know the people expect it but I don’t know. In February, March, (perhaps) the verdict will be.’
Amidst the fracas, Guardiola and his men must remain focused on the task at hand. They are fifth in the Premier League table after an 11-game winning streak and face Aston Villa at 12.30pm on Saturday.
Guardiola’s new contract – a one-year deal with a potential option to extend for a further 12 months – leaves open the possibility that he could manage Man City outside the top flight or with a points deduction if the club were to end up facing a sanction.
As Mail Sport previously reported, it is highly likely that – if no deal is reached – each side will appeal the upcoming ruling. And if that were to be the case, a final decision might not come until the end of next season, with a state of damaging limbo continuing.
City’s alleged breaches are said to have occurred over a 14-year period. The original 115 charges have been expanded to a total of 130 following an administrative matter.
The four-in-a-row champions are accused of failing to report correct financial information for nine seasons spanning from 2009-10 to 2017-18, as well as failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13.
They are also alleged to have failed to provide full details of money paid to players between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and failed to co-operate with the investigation from 2018 to 2023.
That investigation, prompted by hacked material published in German media, has triggered astronomical legal costs for the league, raising concerns among a number of its clubs.
The league, led by chief executive Richard Masters, has been investigating City for more than five years
The competition’s senior lawyer is Adam Lewis KC while Lord Pannick leads the City’s defence. Both are from Blackstone Chambers.
City and the Premier League’s trial officially began in September.
The trial has been heard in private as the Premier League rule regarding FFP offenses states that any judgment before an independent commission will be held in private and will be strictly confidential.
