Manchester City will be hoping to prove their innocence against the 115 financial breaches that they have been alleged to have made by the Premier League after being charged in February last year.
As the hearing regarding the case began on Monday, City’s trial is expected to continue for a 10-week period as per BBC.
The biggest question mark across world football remains the judgement.
Jurgen Klopp admitted if Manchester City are found guilty by the end of the trial, he would celebrate.
It has been reported that City could be stripped off their Premier League titles in the period that they they engaged in alleged financial wrongdoing if they are found guilty — while relegation is also perceived to be another possible punishment in such an instance; potentially even further below the Championship.
Updates continue to emerge about Manchester City’s hearing as it is one of the most-discussed stories in football.
- Man City 115 charges explained: Date of hearing, possible punishments and what Pep Guardiola has said
What Tebas said about Man City and their 115 charges
Aymeric Laporte discussed Manchester City’s 115 financial charges during his time at the club; revealing that he was told by CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain alongside his former teammates that the club had not violated any rules in place.
It was claimed that a verdict around City’s case could be reached next year.
As a result, it seems like the process will be one that will be time-consuming.
Unlike in Everton and Nottingham Forest’s cases where judgements came to light far quicker, the Sky Blues’ charges are far more in terms of size and significance.
With that being the case, the time being taken is natural.
La Liga president Javier Tebas had his say on the financial charges Manchester City are facing.
Tebas told GiveMeSport: “The Premier League shouldn’t give in to pressure, right?”
“Manchester City is just another club and when you lead an association, you have to act.”
The 62-year-old continued: “The Premier League shouldn’t differentiate between big or small, or important and ‘non-important’, clubs. Manchester City is a member of the association that has committed irregularities and should receive the sanction it deserves. If not, the competition’s authority will be lost.”
“There are more than 115 accusations.”
“I don’t know everything, but I know what happened regarding Manchester City’s UEFA case, and quite well. Let’s not forget UEFA sanctioned City by not allowing them to compete in the Champions League.”
“Then CAS, in a very controversial decision, acquitted them instead of accusing them. I would say that was one of the biggest failures in the history of CAS on a legal issue. It was demonstrated [by UEFA] that they should have been sanctioned and some of those charges are now being pursued by the Premier League.”
Javier Tebas also assured that other Premier League clubs feels Manchester City should already be found guilty.
“I can tell you that everyone knows how City has acted in recent years. I hope it’s just a matter of evidence, and that the Premier League know how to prove it well, because the facts are clear. I have spoken with many Premier League clubs and most understand City should be sanctioned.”
It seems like the Man City remain unaffected by all the noise
In February, Manchester City’s official website released an statement, claiming that they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to deny any alleged financial wrongdoing from 2009 until 2018 after they were charged.
From the statement itself as well as the message City’s decision-makers have laid out to their players, the club are backing their corner.
It will be intriguing to see whether the English giants’ self-confidence stems from a genuine place after the judgement emerges.
The rest of the footballing world, including Javier Tebas will have to sit tight and wait for the verdict until then.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola and the players at Manchester City will be focusing on matters strictly on the pitch as they aim to win five Premier League titles in a row and another Champions League amongst other targets this season.
