Government request, verdict, punishment - Man City charges latest as Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs wait

We are nearing the end of the seemingly endless battle between the Premier League and Manchester City over the club's alleged breaches of financial rules.

In February 2023, the Premier League accused City of 115 breaches of the rules. It is now unclear if that is the official figure of charges against Pep Guardiola's club, but it is believed the amount is between 115 and 130.

City have always claimed they have 'irrefutable evidence' that absolves them of wrongdoing. They are currently arguing their case in a hearing that began in September and is set to end this month.

As the end nears, football.london has rounded up the latest on the charges being brought against City.

Government request

Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from , it has been revealed that the previous UK government asked for updates on the case against City. enquired in September 2023 before the British Embassy in Dubai asked for more information in May of this year.

The government is said to understand that the investigation into City is an independent process, and they did not seek to interfere with the verdict. Much of the FOI request was redacted so as to avoid straining diplomatic relations between the UK and United Arab Emirates (UAE). City are currently owned by Sheikh Mansour, the vice president of the UAE.

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Premier League stance

In an interview with the in August, chief executive Richard Masters insisted the time had come to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the charges. "When the case has been heard, there will be a decision published and all the questions you would like me to answer will be answered as part of that process," he said a month before the hearing began in London.

Potential City punishment

Experts have predicted that City's punishment could prove to be severe if they are found guilty. Due to the extent of the allegations, the punishment is likely to be unprecedented. One scenario that has been often touted is that City could be expelled from the Premier League if they are guilty.

Verdict date

With the hearing set to end in mid-November, our London clubs will be keeping a close eye out for the verdict. Some optimistic reports have suggested this could come before the end of the year.

However, a more realistic timeframe would be for the verdict to be released early next year. Of course, this is unlikely to be the end of the matter, with the verdict open to appeals once published.