Manchester City have launched a legal challenge against the Premier League’s 115 charges in relation to alleged financial malpractice, according to reports.
The league leaders, who could seal a fifth title win in six seasons this weekend, were accused in February of breaking a host of rules around income and expenditure. And if found guilty they could end up being banned from the competition and even have their titles expunged.
But, according to The Times, the club have made the first steps in their fight against the allegations with a challenge that includes questioning the involvement of Murray Rosen KC, the head of the Premier League’s independent judicial panel, in addition to changes to the wording of the competition rulebook.
Mr Rosen’s profile on his chambers’ website makes reference to him being an Arsenal member.
Neither the Premier League nor Manchester City have commented on the latest development. Experts have said it could take several years before the case reaches a final outcome and City possess a number of avenues to appeal.
The alleged breaches date back to the 2009/10 season and confirmation of the charges arrived on February 6 after four years of investigation by the league.
At the time City said they would fight to prove their innocence after being “surprised” by the decision to charge while claiming there was "irrefutable evidence" in support of their position.
The club has hired David Pannick KC to fight their case.
In February the Premier League said that City have been charged with:
- 50 breaches of providing inaccurate financial information
- eight alleged breaches in relation to manager remuneration from 2009-13
- 12 breaches in relation to player remuneration between 2010-16
- 5 breaches linked to UEFA financial regulations
- 25 profitability and sustainability breaches
- and 30 breaches of assisting the Premier League's investigation, which began in March 2019
The Premier League had been expected to appoint an independent judicial panel to examine the case and make a final decision - with Rosen deciding who was on the panel.
All hearings would be held in private and, owing to the number of breaches listed by the league this morning, could take a significant amount of time before decisions are reached.
Even if the panel reached a guilty verdict, City would seek an arbitration hearing before potential further appeals in the High Court and Court of Appeal.
The charges have threatened to cast a shadow on City's quest for a Treble. With the Premier League all but sewn up, they last night hammered Real Madrid to set up a Champions League final against Inter Milan while Manchester United await in the FA Cup final
