The long-awaited hearing into Manchester City‘s alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules is set to kick off in September, significantly earlier than initially anticipated.
The independent commission tasked with the case will spend ten weeks meticulously examining the 115 charges leveled against the reigning champions.
While November had been the previously projected start date, the process is now expected to commence in the middle to late September, barring any unforeseen legal complications.
A verdict is anticipated in early 2025, marking the culmination of a drawn-out saga that has cast a long shadow over the club’s recent successes.
A crucial factor in expediting the hearing is the impending resolution of Manchester City’s separate legal challenge against the Premier League’s associated party transaction rules.
The outcome of this case, expected within the next fortnight, could pave the way for the financial fair play trial to commence sooner.
Premier League clubs considering legal action against Manchester City for compensation over alleged rule breaches face a potential hurdle: strict time limits.
Legal experts warn that any claims must be filed within six years of the alleged breaches, a deadline that could arrive in November, before the outcome of the independent commission’s investigation is known.
The stakes are undeniably high for the Manchester club, as the potential penalties for a guilty verdict range from hefty fines to the unprecedented sanction of relegation.