Man City delivers good news to 29 Premier League clubs

As many as 29 clubs could seek damages from Man City if they are convicted in the case of 115 charges against the Premier League.

In February 2023, Man City was accused of breaching 115 financial regulations over a span of nine years. A hearing took place in September, with both parties hiring expensive legal teams to defend their positions.

The litigation process concluded in December, with an independent panel of three members hearing the final arguments and tasked with issuing a verdict. This decision is expected to have a significant impact on English football, but so far no official outcome has been announced nor any clear timeline for the conclusion.

Man City, which previously reached an agreement with the Premier League on APT rules, insists they are completely innocent and "will certainly be vindicated." The Citizens claim to hold "irrefutable evidence" proving their innocence.

If found guilty, Man City could face severe penalties such as heavy fines or point deductions.

Specifically, the 115 allegations against Man City include:

• 54 instances of failing to provide accurate and updated financial reports from the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons.

• 35 instances of non-cooperation with the Premier League investigation from December 2018 to February 2023.

• 14 instances of inaccurate reporting regarding player and coach salaries during the 2009/10 to 2017/18 period.

• 7 breaches of Premier League regulations concerning profitability and sustainability from 2015/16 to 2017/18.

• 5 violations of UEFA rules, including club licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations.

Meanwhile, many other clubs await the final verdict. Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright suggests that if these breaches affected their Premier League results, clubs could demand that the Premier League force Man City to compensate them. This scenario might resemble the 2007 Sheffield United lawsuit against West Ham regarding third-party ownership violations.

Up to 29 clubs that participated in the Premier League during the period of violations may claim their rights, with some having stronger grounds. The list includes Aston Villa, Burnley, Hull City, Portsmouth, Tottenham, Liverpool, Birmingham, Blackpool, West Ham, Arsenal, Man Utd, Newcastle, Chelsea, Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves, Everton, Wigan, Reading, QPR, Norwich, Fulham, Cardiff, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Swansea, Stoke, and West Brom.

However, to succeed in lawsuits, these clubs must prove a direct and legal link that they lost opportunities to improve their rankings and revenue due to Man City's rule violations.

Although stripping titles and awarding them to other teams is unlikely, clubs that were relegated, missed out on European competition, or finished second have solid grounds to claim compensation. For example, Man Utd finished second in the 2011/12 season, losing to City only on goal difference, and trailed them by 19 points in the 2017/18 season.

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