Manchester City are unlikely to learn the outcome of the hearing into its 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches until after the end of the season, according to a report.
The Citizens were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 with breaking financial rules between 2009 and 2018 following a four-year investigation.
Man City, who have emphatically denied the charges against them, are alleged to have failed to provide accurate financial information relating to sponsorship income, revenue and operating costs, as well as full details of players' wages over a six-season period and the earnings of former manager Roberto Mancini during his time at the club.
Pep Guardiola's side have also been accused by the Premier League of failing to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules during a five-year period - before the Catalan's arrival in 2016 - and are said to have not fully co-operated with the Premier League's investigation.
Man City had a two-year UEFA ban overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July 2020, while the club were fined £49m in 2014 for breaking UEFA's FFP rules, of which £32m was suspended.
The hearing into Man City's 115 charges - dubbed the 'the sport's trial of the century' - began on September 16 and was held at the International Dispute Resolution Centre near St Paul's in London.
That 12-week trial concluded on December 6 and the independent commission is now considering all the evidence before making their final decision.
© Imago
Verdict on Man City's 115 charges unlikely before summer
It was anticipated that a verdict would be made public in the spring of 2025, while Guardiola stated in early February that the club expects to learn the outcome "in one month".
However, Man City's legal battle with the Premier League continues to drag on, and The Telegraph now reports that a verdict is 'unlikely' before the summer, as no hard-and-fast deadline was ever set to reveal the final judgment.
It is claimed that the length of time being taken is not considered a surprise in legal circles and the reason behind the lengthy delay is due to the vast number of charges against Man City, as well as the complexities involved, the amount of evidence heard and challenged, and the scrutiny around the high-profile case between England's top division and the reigning champions of the last four seasons.
Sanctions in the event of a guilty verdict could range from heavy fines to a significant points deductions which could lead to relegation from the Premier League.
The 2025-26 Premier League season is due to begin on August 16 and, as things stand, it still remains unknown as to exactly when an announcement will be made over whether City are or are not found guilty.
In the meantime, Guardiola's side continue to battle for Champions League qualification, with a top-five finish now enough to take a seat at Europe's top table next season; they currently sit sixth and just one point behind Chelsea in fourth and Newcastle United in fifth with seven games remaining.
Oliver Thomas
