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A verdict in the Premier League’s landmark court battle with Manchester City over ‘115’ charges is unlikely before the summer, Telegraph Sport understands.
City have been accused of breaching a series of financial rules over a nine-year period as well as allegations of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
A hearing by an independent commission concluded in December after almost three months of legal argument at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre. It was initially anticipated that a decision in the case could be delivered around this time, in the early spring.
But no hard-and-fast deadline was ever set and the feeling is that an outcome is unlikely before the summer, raising the prospect of there still being quite a wait before a verdict arrives. The 2025/26 Premier League season is due to start on August 16.
Given the number of charges, the complexities involved, the amount of evidence heard and challenged and the scrutiny around a case dubbed football’s “trial of the century”, the length of time being taken is not considered a surprise in legal circles.
It is more than two years since the Premier League announced the charges against City, in February 2023, and approaching six and a half years since they first began their investigations into the club.
City vehemently deny any wrongdoing and say they have “irrefutable evidence” that will clear the club. Their defence against the charges is being led by Lord Pannick KC.
The original 115 alleged breaches actually total 130 because when the Premier League announced the charges there was confusion over some of the rules listed in particular seasons, and a correction was issued.
City’s alleged rule breaches include not providing accurate financial information for nine separate seasons, particularly around sponsorship income, and allegedly not providing full details of Roberto Mancini’s pay over the four seasons he was manager at the club from 2009 to 2013.
Pep Guardiola, the City manager, has repeatedly asked City’s critics to wait until the outcome of the case before passing judgement on the club.
If the serious charges against City are found proven, they could be hit with a heavy points deduction or even relegation. Other Premier League clubs could also claim for loss of income for missing out on the league title or European competitions over the course of several seasons, which could total hundreds of millions of pounds.
City have said they welcome the independent commission’s review to “impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position” and “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all”.
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