CORNERFLICK
Manchester City’s Premier League case should be resolved before the end of the season, according to senior figures at rival clubs who believe a delay would prolong uncertainty.
Pressure for a quick ruling
The Premier League said on Tuesday that City had been found guilty of all charges relating to financial rule breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The alleged misconduct includes inflating revenue by more than £900m through fabricated sponsorship deals.
City have denied wrongdoing and said they plan to appeal by the end of this week. The process has already taken three years since the club was charged, and rival clubs fear it could drag on much longer.
A club chairman told the BBC it was “in everyone’s interest” for the matter to be resolved as quickly as possible. Asked whether he expected that to happen, he said: “Instinctively, yes, but it has to be done properly. If it’s not, there are huge risks, given what has always been there because they have won the league several times over these years.”
What happens next
One source said there was hope any appeal would be handled in a condensed timeframe. The final decision rests with an independent commission, though the Premier League board and City can suggest an appropriate sanction before that ruling.
The league’s rules say an appeal should not take more than 12 weeks to finish after it is lodged, with a decision within 30 days, although it is unclear whether that timetable applies to City’s case. The process can be accelerated to meet deadlines such as the end of a league season.
City chief executive Ferran Soriano has said the case will last for a long time. The club cannot appeal again to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but could still challenge due process in the High Court.