Manchester City still face 115 charges but could win the Premier League title again, with a court ruling likely to come soon after lifting the trophy.
Man City are in contention for the Premier League title (Image: Getty Images)
The Premier League faces a “troubling” scenario in which Manchester City claim the title and are found guilty of 115 charges against them at about the same time.
Josep Guardiola’s side have been playing under such a cloud for more than a year as legal proceedings continue. They are in contention to win the title once again, and defeating Arsenal would give them their fifth title in six years.
City itself has always denied wrongdoing and maintains its innocence, but a conviction remains a possibility. It would be terrible for the Premier League and its authorities if the decision was made at the exact moment the trophy was lifted.
An article in The Lawyer said that given the circumstances, City’s inclusion in the title race would be a “nightmare” for the top flight.
they write: “English football currently faces the very real and troubling possibility that the club could be crowned champions despite being found guilty in court of years of gross breaches of regulations. It is even possible, incredibly unlikely given the amount of time left in the season, that City could win the league but receive points deductions and hand the title to Arsenal.”
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“City’s bid for the title has now become a nightmare for the Premier League. Like most arbitrations, the process is confidential. The secrecy and 16-month waiting period have led to rumors flying around and many wondering what is going on behind closed doors.”
Guardiola himself took to bat for the club at a press conference, even though the charges span a period spanning from 2009 to 2018. He was in charge for only two of those years, but previously claimed he would step down if the club’s promise of innocence turned out to be a lie.
The trophy could be handed over at about the same time the court verdict is handed down (Image: Getty Images)
The lawyer said the process is likely to be prolonged because the judges are working on other cases or are still being rejected by the parties involved.
A further reason for the delay could simply be that the three judges involved did not agree on the verdict. The publication said the judges typically want to avoid split decisions, and if there is a disagreement, the three will likely try to reach some sort of agreement, but that this too will take time.
Although unlikely, the parties may enter into settlement negotiations. City may have to take some responsibility for their own wrongdoing in order to do so, but that would be a major shift in stance.
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