Man City 115 charges delay explained as commission lay out Premier League timeline

· Mirror

Manchester City have been found guilty by the independent commission who have now explained the reason behind the delay

The independent Commission has explained the reason behind the 20-month delay following the end of the 42-day hearing into the Premier League and Manchester City's 115 charges. The investigation into Man City began in December 2018, and a complaint was subsequently issued under Section W of the League’s rules in February 2023.

The Premier League announced in a statement today (Wednesday) that City were found guilty of 'all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.' The club still maintain their innocence.

In a statement, the independent Commission explained the reason behind the lengthy delay and wrote: "It has taken us much longer than we would have wished, and much longer than we had anticipated would be the case when the hearing concluded, to produce our Decision. That is regrettable.

> "However, we were fortunate to have available to us throughout the period in which our Decision has been being prepared not only all of the documents that were used at the hearing but also (a) verbatim transcripts of the evidence given by each witness and expert at the hearing.

> "Those transcripts ran to approximately 7,000 pages, and (b) extremely detailed written submissions from the parties (that they had supplemented orally over four days at the end of the hearing) on the evidence and each of the numerous issues that we were tasked with determining in the proceedings."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters also broke his silence on the investigation and said: "The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.

> "It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

> "It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.

> "This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches.

> "Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans."

City however, maintain their innocence and have until the end of this week, Friday, October 3 to lodge and appeal. They released a statement which read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, which has been published today.

> "The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.

> "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.

> "The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.

> "The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."

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