Arsenal news as Manchester City Premier League trial date revealed with repercussions for potential punishments
Man City celebrate winning the Premier League
Less than one month after Everton became the first side in English top flight history to be docked points for financial misdeeds, the pressure has been ramped up once more on Manchester City. The current league champions and winners of five of the last six titles have been charged with 115 breaches of financial regulations between 2008 and 2018 with the possible sanctions now a hot topic.
The Premier League made an unprecedented decision earlier this month to punish Sean Dyche’s Everton with a ten-point deduction mid-season for going over the profit and sustainability threshold by nearly £20million over a rolling three-year period culminating in the 2021/22 season. It has left them in a relegation battle once more, just off the bottom on goal difference.
However, many have taken the decision, which is to be appealed, as an indication of just what City have in store for them if found guilty. Following a five-year investigation into actions by the club, it was revealed that an independent commission would be delving further into matters.
City are not just alleged to have broken financial rules but also to not have acted in ‘in utmost good faith’. Having taken nearly ten months to come to a conclusion for the Toffees’ case over just one charge, the chances of having an outcome anytime soon look bleak.
Now, it has been reported in the Daily Mail that a trial – dubbed the trial of the century – has been pencilled in for late 2024. The date is said to have been agreed between club and competition, though both are remaining quiet over the situation. It is not expected that a decision will be made over the trial until after the 2024/25 season though, at which point Pep Guardiola’s current contract is due to end.
There is also the prospect of any outcome going to an appeal and via the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). City have already used this means to overturn a ban placed on them by UEFA five years ago. For Arsenal, who were not in the conversation for winning titles during the period of the alleged offences, there remains an anxious wait.
If City were to be punished then it could see some historic calls made with possible relegations, league expulsions, mammoth fines and enormous points deductions all in the mix. Depending on how these would be hypothetically applied, it could make a difference to this season, next year, beyond or even be retrospectively administered.