In an update from The Times , it appears the independent commission's session to deliberate on City's case will kick off in mid-September rather than November as expected. This is, of course, subject to change if there are additional legal hurdles.
Reserved for a 10-week stint, the hearing is tipped to declare its judgement, while City anticipates another verdict concerning associated party transactions in a mere two weeks. Despite denying any malpractice, should the weightier allegations hold true, the club could be staring down the barrel of Premier League relegation.
City could also receive a points deduction. If Pep Guardiola's team is handed a points deduction or relegated from the Premier League, it would boost Liverpool's hopes of winning the title. It would also be good news for other teams trying to win the biggest prize in English soccer, such as Liverpool and Manchester United.
City has dominated the Premier League in recent years, winning six of the last seven titles. That includes four consecutive championships, the first team in English soccer to achieve that feat. Never has a team dominated the league like this.
The only team to stop City in recent times is Liverpool, who was victorious during the 2019/20 season. The Reds know just how frustrating a powerful City is, having finished second behind the Manchester club during the 2018/19 and 2021/22 campaigns.
Spanning nine seasons, the charges claim that City obscured the true nature of its financial dealings, notably regarding payments to former manager Roberto Mancini and certain players. Accusations also include obstructing the probe itself.
Premier League chief Richard Masters, addressing the issue in April, asserted that "the case will resolve itself at some point in the near future."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Most Popular
Comments / 0