The long-awaited verdict on Manchester City's 115 alleged financial breaches could finally be delivered before Christmas, according to a former advisor to the club. The Premier League and the club have been waiting for nearly a year to hear the outcome from an independent commission.
The Long-Awaited Verdict
The hearing into Manchester City's 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules concluded in December 2024 after a 12-week tribunal. However, the independent commission has yet to publish its findings, leaving both the club and the league in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
Manager Pep Guardiola expressed frustration earlier this year, stating in February that a verdict was expected within "one month". When that failed to materialise, further reports in the summer suggested a conclusion might arrive in October. These repeated delays have dragged the high-stakes saga out far longer than anticipated.
Reason Behind the Delay
Stefan Borson, a former financial advisor to Manchester City, has shed light on the sluggish process. Speaking to talkSPORT, Borson confirmed that the verdict has been "imminent for some time" and could come out before Christmas.
He was clear that neither Manchester City nor the Premier League are to blame for the hold-up. Instead, he pointed to the commission itself. Borson suggested that the panel members were likely not paid to work exclusively on the case after the hearing ended, preventing a swift resolution.
"Arguably the Premier League and Manchester City together, with the panel, should have agreed a process whereby the hearing ends and then effectively they are exclusively paid to deliberate and produce, over let's say three months or at worst six months, the decision during the closed season," Borson explained.
Secrecy and Speculation
The deliberations remain shrouded in secrecy. Borson revealed that even the legal teams on both sides are surprised by the lack of a decision. The identity of the panel members is not publicly known, though Borson speculated it likely consists of "two lawyers and maybe one accountant".
Throughout the process, Manchester City has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The club maintains it has a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" to prove its innocence. The 115 charges relate to alleged financial fair play breaches between 2009 and 2018, and a subsequent alleged refusal to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation.
The entire football world now watches and waits, with a potential landmark ruling expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
