A definitive verdict on the 115 Premier League charges levelled against Manchester City could be delivered before the end of the year, according to a former financial advisor to the club.
Long-Awaited Decision Nears
The Premier League initially charged Manchester City in early 2023, alleging the club breached financial regulations over a nine-year period spanning from 2009 to 2018. The hearing for this monumental case began over a year ago, yet a final decision has remained elusive, casting a long shadow over the club's recent era of dominance.
The period under investigation covers three of City's Premier League title wins in 2012, 2014, and 2018. Under manager Pep Guardiola, the club has since added a further five league championships to its tally. Throughout the process, Manchester City have consistently and strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Blame for Delay Pointed at Independent Panel
Stefan Borson, who previously worked as a financial advisor for City, has now suggested that a resolution might finally be at hand. He told talkSPORT, "I think it still could come out before Christmas. The decision has been imminent for quite some time."
Borson also provided insight into why the case has dragged on for years, absolving both the club and the Premier League of responsibility for the delay. Instead, he pointed to the independent panel tasked with reaching a verdict.
"Well, look, nobody knows because even the parties themselves expected to have been told by now," Borson stated. "All the lawyers are surprised there is no decision at this stage, and that's on both sides. I'll tell you who's holding it up - the panel making the decision. They hold the pen."
He criticised the lack of a structured timeline for the deliberation, suggesting that the panel members were likely not exclusively paid to produce the decision after the hearing ended, which has contributed to the prolonged process.
A Cloud Over Success
The unresolved charges have meant that Manchester City and their supporters have continually faced suggestions that their unprecedented success, which includes a historic treble in 2023, is somehow tainted. The imminent verdict, whenever it arrives, will be one of the most significant moments in modern English football, potentially carrying profound sporting and financial consequences.
