Manchester City have been charged with 115 breaches of regulations. (Image: Getty Images)
Sports lawyer Tom Murray said Manchester City were expected to be found guilty on at least some of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, but he would not be surprised if a final verdict was still more than two years away.
The founding partner of Three Point Law Firm expects this process to continue to be lengthy and complicated due to the appeals process. Citi is accused of violating financial regulations over a nine-year period starting in 2009. The investigation began in 2019 and included allegations regarding the club’s financial reporting and failure to co-operate with the investigation, although the club has denied any wrongdoing.
The charges were formally announced in 2023, and Citi faces 54 allegations of failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009 to October 2009. He also faces 14 charges of failing to submit accurate financial reports regarding player and manager compensation over the same period.
The hearing began in September 2024 and lasted 10 weeks, with all parties still awaiting the outcome. The case is unprecedented in English football, and the sheer number of charges and the seriousness of the charges appear to have contributed to the long wait for a verdict.
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Murray believes the sheer volume of charges will ultimately result in Manchester City being found guilty of at least some of the crimes. But as speculation continues about when a verdict will be handed down, the lawyer insisted he had spoken to those involved in the case and declined to predict the timing of the outcome.
“I don’t think anyone knows,” Murray said on the Price of Football podcast. “I’ve spoken to the barrister who’s working on this case, and even they don’t know when the verdict will be announced. As much as I’d like to speculate, I think it’s pointless.”
“What do you think will be the outcome? I think Manchester City will be held accountable for some kind of violation. Given the number of charges, I don’t think they can get away with this.”
Manchester City are still awaiting the outcome of the charges against them (Image: Getty Images)
“But I think this situation will continue for as long as possible and we can expect an appeal and we will be back in the same position. I wouldn’t be surprised if in two years we still don’t have a final result.”
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By contrast, City’s former financial adviser Stefan Bolson said he believed the club would receive a verdict “quite quickly”, suggesting it could be handed down before the end of the season.
“I think it’s coming soon, but then I told you before, right?” he said. “My best guess and the party atmosphere is that it will come at the end of the season.
“June is the most likely date, that’s the feeling. There’s no way to justify it right now considering how long it’s going to take to write this.
“This is outrageous territory. The 18 months it takes to produce a decision in a private arbitration is patently ridiculous. I have heard little to indicate that we are nearing the end of the decision-making process.”
