The independent hearing into Manchester City's alleged 115 breaches of Premier League financial regulations is finally set to begin on Monday.
ESPN previously reported that the trial would begin on Monday, with British media calling it the “sporting trial of the century.” It is expected to last around two months. The aim is for the final verdict, including any appeals, to be completed by the end of the 2024-25 season.
City, who have won the English title a record four times in a row, were referred to an independent commission in February 2023, with various charges dating from 2009 to 2018. The club has always denied any wrongdoing.
If City are found guilty of some or all of the charges, they could face sanctions or huge fines, points deductions or even relegation from the Premier League.
That would also put a huge asterisk over one of the most successful periods of any club in English history.
City have won eight Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups, six League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup since being bought by Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008.
On Friday, manager Pep Guardiola welcomed the start of the trial and said City were innocent until proven guilty.
“Start early and then [hopefully] “The matter will be over soon. An independent committee will decide and I am looking forward to the decision,” Guardiola told a news conference.
“We'll see. I know what people expect, what they expect, I know, I've read it for many, many years.
“I am not a lawyer. [Striker] Erling [Haaland] He is not a lawyer. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
The charges City face include failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to provide full disclosure about player and manager remuneration, breaches of Premier League and UEFA financial fair play regulations and failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.
This is not the first time City have found themselves in the dock for alleged financial breaches.
In 2020, they were banned from the Champions League for two years by UEFA for exaggerating sponsorship revenues between 2012 and 2016, but they successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
City said at the time of their referral to the Premier League's independent commission that they were shocked by the league's “issuance of these alleged breaches”.
The hearing, which will be held in private and is likely to last for many weeks, will inevitably cast a shadow over the Premier League season as City look to win a fifth consecutive title.
Whatever the verdict, either side could appeal, threatening to drag out the process until early summer 2025.
Everton and Nottingham Forest both had points deducted last season for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules, although Leicester City avoided a similar fate after winning an appeal against the Premier League.
