The hearing into Manchester City’s alleged breach of 115 financial rules begins today
The hearing which is expected to last up to 10 weeks will look into breaches spanning from 2009 to 2018 and includes multiple charges of subverting the regulations by failing to provide accurate financial information.
Central to many of the charges, City are accused of overstating their sponsorship revenue limiting the potential losses in the club’s accounts
Other allegations include off-the-books’ payments to then-manager Roberto Mancini via consultancy fees from a club in Abu Dhabi, and giving players more money than was officially going through the accounts so that recorded spending was less than it actually was
If the charges are proven City could face potential sanctions ranging from fines and points deductions to being stripped of Premier League titles and expulsion from the top flight.
Manager Pep Guardiola said last Friday he believes many of City’s rivals want them sanctioned.
City have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and say that they have irrefutable evidence to support their position and “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
