‘Where’s the proof? - Man City FFP frustration amid verdict delay after ‘half a million pieces of written evidence submitted’

Premier League giants City have known since February 2023 that they have at least 115 charges hanging over their heads. An independent hearing was finally completed in late 2024, but no ruling has been passed.

Speculation regarding potential punishments has continued to rage, with it suggested that City could be stung with points penalties, transfer embargoes or expulsion from the English top-flight.

Manchester United legend Gary Neville considers it to be a “disgrace” that another season has come and gone without a definitive outcome - with any appeals still needing to be factored into the equation - and there is no indication that an end is nigh.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told the Manchester Evening News when asked for an update on the complicated legal dispute: “In terms of the effective accusation of fraud against Manchester City, taking money from the club owners and disguising that as sponsorship revenue, Manchester City have to be party to the guilt of that, the sponsors have to be party to the guilt of that, and the auditors have to be incompetent or in on it - and they won't be in on it.

“If that is proven, there will be a very severe penalty and the board of directors of Manchester City would have to follow the same route as Juventus and resign.

“The other issue is non-cooperation with the Premier League. I think that City will quite happily say they haven't co-operated. If they get found guilty of that, there will be a penalty in terms of a fine because it's a fiscal issue.

“The third issue [is] of paying managers and players off-book. It's more complicated but more likely to be found guilty in terms of the burden of proof because the auditors wouldn't be involved because it's a private arrangement.

“Roberto Mancini was accused but didn't attend the hearing because he's under no obligation to do so, so where's the proof? It's really difficult.”

He went on to say of a high-profile Financial Fair Play case being dragged out over more than two years: “It took 14 weeks to hear all of the evidence. I believe there were half a million pieces of written evidence submitted by both parties. That means that the commission has an awful lot.

“They have to get the decision right, but we stopped the hearing in the second week in December. We're six months later into the case and nothing has come out of it. It's frustrating.”

City have always maintained their innocence, insisting that no rules have been broken on their part, but they are growing as impatient as everybody else when it comes to learning of final outcomes.