Over the last three years, there have been moments when it has been tempting to speculate as to whether the Premier League has covertly halted their inquiry into City’s internal matters. However, no. Justice is a sword that never sleeps, or at least, it is not likely to stay in its scabbard long when money, football, power, influence, money, and money are all at stake. Undoubtedly, the charges’ news which include claims of exaggerated transactions being made with associated parties will have shocked City’s commercial sponsors, who are understandably envious of their reputations as always.
The Allegations
The issue facing Manchester City is that they are charged with a bewildering array of infractions, including giving false financial information, paying the manager improperly or without recording it, giving players bribes, breaking Uefa financial regulations, breaking profitability and sustainability regulations, and possibly most damning of all a plethora of allegations of not cooperating with the Premier League during the investigation.
They may manage to get away from one or two. However, if they were to remove them all, the League would appear completely inept. Although Manchester City has always acted in good faith and said that the League is to blame, the team will probably find it more difficult to demonstrate this than to stand by its actions in the face of 110 charges. However, the League would lose credibility if they refuted every one of those assertions. Thus, yet another chaos.
Integrity and Fairness
Furthermore, with Manchester City, there are even more clubs that could file a claim against them. Any club that believes that they have been denied merit money, a spot in Europe (remember, that essentially means the top seven), a spot in the FA Cup after being eliminated by Manchester City, or even the League Cup due to their own results against Manchester City, could file a claim. Consider the League Cup final of 2018.
Technicalities in the case might, of course, rule out any particular incident, but since there are so many of these claims, some of them had to be true. For example, Arsenal finished sixth in 2018–19. Arsenal may have finished fourth and earned a spot and a lot more money in the Champions League if Manchester City hadn’t allegedly engaged in financial fraud. Arsenal would undoubtedly file a lawsuit against Manchester City for any resulting losses if it were determined that they had engaged in some form of cheating during that season. The same was true of Arsenal’s performance in five previous seasons.
Competitive Balance
Nevertheless, there hasn’t been any news of a controversial remark from First Abu Dhabi Bank, Etihad Airways, Experience Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, Aldar Properties, Masdar Energy, or e & telecommunications in Abu Dhabi as of last night. Not a word from Dude Wipes, the club’s official partner for male-oriented toilet paper, either, but who knows? Given everything, this may end up being a case for the dudes.
Not that anyone ought to get very excited. These are only fees. City will defend this lawsuit with the same vigor that they have used to reverse a guilty conviction on similar concerns. Due to alleged financial irregularities, Uefa was banned from the Champions League for two years, which would have essentially halted the Abu Dhabi project altogether. It’s understandable why City was so visibly incensed at the proceedings, the decision, and the severity of the sentence meted out.
Reputation of the Sport
The court of arbitration for sport (Cas) ruled, by a 2-1 majority, that several of Uefa’s claims were time-barred, which is not the same as having them thoroughly reviewed and rejected, which is why the guilty finding was overturned. The fact that certain charges were “not established” indicates that there was insufficient proof. However, Cas also stressed that Uefa’s accusations were “not frivolous.” Stated differently, there was more than enough to make a case. Though not a particularly good one, to give Uefa’s attorneys a fist bump. The Premier League has reached a similar conclusion after two years. The air is being sliced by that judicial sword once more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ultimately, there is just one significant gap remaining, Manchester City takes the matter to the CAS, which orders that it be dismissed due to a deadline. That’s what got them the previous time, and there’s a good probability that’s what they want to do this time. In addition to breaching the law, City is charged with betraying the spectacle. Over that time, this team has won 14 significant domestic titles, whisked your favorite player away, kept the best coach in the globe, and dominated the scene.
