London (AFP) – Premier League chief executive Richard Masters on Friday revealed the case against Manchester City for alleged financial breaches will be resolved in the “near future”. City are bidding to win a fourth successive Premier League title this season, which would be their second triumph in the competition since being hit with 115 charges of breaching financial rules in February 2023.
The allegations relate to City’s conduct in nine seasons starting in 2009 until 2018, when the Premier League opened an investigation into the club. Asked on Friday whether another City title success while the charges remain unresolved would damage the credibility of European football, Masters said: “It’s not for the football authorities to start being selective about who they would like to win the league.”
The key point is that you’ve got that jeopardy until the final day. Who knows where we will be on May 19? Masters, speaking at the European Leagues general assembly, added: “Obviously we can’t comment on the case, the date has been set and the case will resolve itself at some point in the near future, and I cannot make any further comment on it.”
An independent commission is set to hear the case later this year, but not before the current campaign ends. Second-placed City are one point behind leaders Arsenal but have a game in hand and will clinch the title if they win their last five matches. City said at the time the charges were made that they welcomed a review by an independent commission “to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of our position”.
“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all,” the club added. The wait for a verdict on City comes in a season in which Everton and Nottingham Forest were hit with points deductions for breaching the league’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Everton’s initial 10-point penalty was reduced to six on appeal, but they were then given another two-point punishment for similar offences, which they are also appealing.
Relegation-threatened Forest have appealed after being handed a four-point deduction for their own PSR breaches.
© 2024 AFP
