Manchester City’s ongoing investigation and hearing into the alleged misconduct to Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations is now in full swing. The ten-time EPL winners were charged in February 2023 for breaching between 115 to 130 Financial Fair Play rules in their financial dealings for nine seasons, beginning in 2009 until 2018. This investigation was triggered after allegations first surfaced in 2018 through the German publication Der Spiegel.
The long-awaited hearing kicked off on September 16 2024 at the IDRC near St Paul’s Cathedral in London and is expected to span over 10 weeks with a verdict likely to be heard in the Spring of 2025. The Premier League FFP rules which are more dynamic than that of the Spanish La Liga are designed to ensure English Clubs spend what they earn, and clubs can get around these rules by potentially inflating how much they earn or disguising how much they spend, either on transfers or other club related expenses. According to the Premier League, the Abu Dhabi United Group-owned club failed to provide accurate details of their financial dealings for the stipulated nine years. The charges against Man City include Fifty-four Charges for failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information (2009-2018). Fourteen Charges, for failure to provide accurate financial reports for players and manager compensation (2009-2018). Five Charges for failure to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including Financial Fair Play Regulations. Seven Charges for breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability regulations (2015-2018). Thirty-five Charges for failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations (2018-2023).
Man City denied all the charges against them asserting that they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to clear their name. They now face the possibility of receiving harsh penalties if found guilty of these charges. Such penalties may include severe point deductions, substantial fines to the League and participating clubs throughout the breach, and even an expulsion from the Premier League. They remain adamant that they have done nothing to attract such penalties and have legal representatives handling the case. Former Everton CEO – Keith Wyness has suggested that City might consider “settling and accepting a penalty” to resolve the matter, as their hearing progresses. Speaking to the Football Insider, he noted;
“I think the Premier League definitely wants to get this over with and learn better lessons on how to regulate the game. Man City can’t keep fighting these battles. PR-wise and from a global public image point of view, they know they’ve got to put this to bed. Everyone loves the football they’ve been playing, but there is a cloud looming over them.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to get this solved, it’s gone on for so long. But if there’s a settlement, there has to be a clear reason. It could be that both sides have got very good cases. I hope common sense will prevail. I think Man City would settle and take a penalty. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in these hearings. Nevertheless, it’s all going to come out in the wash – and hopefully, it won’t drag on for years, as it may well do.”
The harshest potential outcome would be relegation, but other penalties such as points deductions or financial compensation to rival Premier League clubs are still very much possible. If the charges are proven, City might be required to repay merit-based financial rewards that other clubs would have earned had they not allegedly breached FFP rules.
According to estimated information from the Premier League financial data, Arsenal could benefit significantly from a guilty verdict, as they have finished second to City in the past two seasons. The Gunners could be owed around £8.6 million in merit payments as well as Premier League reclaimations if the board decides to strip City of their achievements over the years (which is very unlikely to happen). Everton, Stoke City, and Liverpool will earn even more from a guilty verdict, with each club possibly receiving over £10 million in compensation. Other clubs like West Ham, West Brom, Swansea, and Sunderland could also see significant payments that are estimated close to £9 million each.
CITY GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS WITH SEVERAL FIRSTS IN COMMANDING UCL VICTORY AT BRATISLAVA
Manchester City showed a remarkable display of pace and skill in their 4-0 away victory over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night. This comes after being held drawn to Newcastle early on Saturday’s EPL game, seeing them fall equal on points to Arsenal and one short of Liverpool at first place.
There were a lot of firsts to go around as City claimed their first victory in the newly introduced League phase of the Champions League. They now have four points from two games after picking up a point at home to Inter Milan last two weeks (a goalless draw). Ikay Gundogan returned to the score sheet with his first goal since returning to Manchester City colors this summer. He opened the scoring at the Tehelne Pole (8 mins) with a well-deflected shot that made it past Dominic Takac at his near post. The German featured for Barcelona last season and returned on a free transfer after terminating his contract with the Spanish giants to help resolve their financial battles.
Phil Foden scored City’s second in the 15th minute to open his goal-scoring account for the season. The 2023/24 PFA Player of the Year has failed to register a goal in his eight appearances for club and country since the start of the 2024/25 season. He also gifted (an assist) young Manchester City boyhood fan-turned Player James McAtee his first goal for the club 16th minutes before the end of the game.
Evergreen striker Erling Haaland also got his first goal in the 2024/25 season in a classy fashion, dribbling past Dominic Takac to continue his impressive goal-scoring run in the UEFA Champions League. The Norwegian goal-machine now has 43 goals in 42 Champions League appearances and 20 in 23 UCL appearances for City. Haaland has scored 11 goals in nine appearances across three competitions for Pep Gladiola’s side this season.
Manchester City was dominant in both halves with Belgium’s Jeremy Doku at the center of every attack. They hit the post three times in the first half while playing mostly half-field, and left the hosts with zero shots on target throughout the game. They remain without the expertise of 2024 Ballon D’or headliner Rodri who is set to miss the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL in the EPL game against Arsenal. Kelvin De Bruyne, Oscar Bobb, and Nathan Ake remain unavailable for Pep Gladiola’s selection due to injuries.
WHO’S UP NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?
After a dominant display at the Tehelne Pole, Man City will look forward to finishing strong in the first half of the season ahead of a more draining second half to the 2024/25 season, which would include the first of its kind – 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Pep Gladiola’s men would be making a lot of trips in the coming months and fierce battles would be fought to keep them afloat to attain the top of the UCL League phase and the Premier League table. Here is a breakdown of City’s next game before December 2024:
Manchester City vs Fulham, Premier League, Saturday 5th October, 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City, Premier League, Sunday 20th October, 14:00
Manchester City vs Sparta Prague, UEFA Champions League, Wednesday 23rd October, 20:00
Manchester City vs Southampton, Premier League, Saturday 26th October, 15:00
Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City, Carabao Cup, Wednesday 30th October, 20:15
Bournemouth vs Manchester City, Premier League, Saturday 2nd November, 15:00
Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City, UEFA Champions League, Tuesday 5th November, 20:00
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Manchester City, Premier League, Saturday 9th November, 17:30
Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League, Saturday 23rd November, 17:30
Manchester City vs Feyenoord, UEFA Champions League, Tuesday 26th November, 20:00
GET MAN CITY TICKETS!
Secure fast-selling Man City tickets and reserve a spot for yourself and loved ones at games at the Etihad Stadium and across Europe this season. Pep Gladiola’s city faces the ultimate challenge of reclaiming their Premier League title this season while vying for other domestic titles. The 2024/25 Champions League season stands as another great test for the English club as they seek to replicate their 2023 victory in the newly introduced League phase.
