Hearing date set for Manchester City’s financial rule breach charges: Premier League CEO
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Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the English Premier League last season.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – A date has been set for the hearing into Manchester City’s alleged financial rule breaches,
They were charged in February 2023 with more than 100 breaches of the league’s finance rules since their acquisition by the Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group in 2008, and were referred to an independent commission for a hearing.
“There is a date set for that proceeding. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you when that is but it is progressing,” Masters told the British Parliament’s culture, media and sport committee.
When the charges were announced last February, City said that they welcomed “the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of their position”.
The charges against the club, who are targeting a fourth straight Premier League title this season, are different to those brought against Everton and Nottingham Forest on Jan 15, Masters told the committee.
“If any club, the current champions or otherwise, had been found in breach of the spending rules, they would be in exactly the same position as Everton or Nottingham Forest,” he said.
“But the volume and character of the charges laid before Manchester City, which I obviously cannot talk about at all, are being heard in a completely different environment.”
Everton and Forest are facing potential points deductions for breaching the profitability and sustainability rules
The Toffees are appealing against that decision, which judged they had breached the limit at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Manager Sean Dyche said he and his Everton players are used to facing challenging circumstances.
“My insistence is on myself, the staff and the players to stay focused on the job in hand, which hasn’t changed at all,” he said ahead of the team’s FA Cup third-round replay against Crystal Palace on Jan 17.
“We stay focused. I think we’ve done a good job of doing that and the players deserve a lot of credit so far because they have stayed focused. I think the on-pitch situation has remained strong.”
But Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo admitted he is “concerned” about the situation as Forest – and also Everton – are in danger of relegation this campaign.
“We are all concerned at the club, but me as a coach there’s nothing I have to think of, or to deal with that. My job is clear, to prepare the team. That’s what we are focused on,” he said ahead of his side’s FA Cup third-round replay at third-tier Blackpool.
Nuno, who replaced the sacked Steve Cooper on Dec 20, did not confirm whether he knew the club would be facing action from the Premier League before taking on the job. REUTERS, AFP
