Man City charges latest as Premier League clubs 'upset' and second hearing could be held

A general view of the Etihad Stadium prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and FC Internazionale Milano at Etihad Stadium.
-Credit: (Image: Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)


We are now into the second week of the hearing brought against Manchester City by the Premier League as the club look to prove their innocence.

While attention has been on matters on the pitch over the last few days, the hearing has been continuing in the background. City booked their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round draw on Tuesday night thanks to a 2-1 win over Championship side Watford.

There has however still been talk over the ongoing hearing, with pundits continuing to give their thoughts. There is unlikely to be much information straight from the hearing, with it being conducted in private, much to the frustration of some of City’s rivals.

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As it continues, MEN Sport has collected some of the latest information surrounding it. Here is a look at what is being said.

City could face second hearing

If City are found guilty of breaches of the Premier League financial rules, then they could face what is effectively a second hearing, according to former City financial advisor Stefan Borson.

“It effectively means there is a split trial,” he told Football Insider.“There won’t be any discussion in this independent commission about what the sanction should be for City in terms of those that are within the remit of the independent commission.

“The independent commission will hear the evidence in terms of the actual substantive situation and will come to a finding as to whether City have done it or not in respect of all the individual charges.

“I assume they will then publish that decision and, at that point, will recall the parties to make submissions regarding whatever sanction is appropriate and incorporate within those discussions submissions relating to aggravating and mitigating factors.

“In a sense, it’s similar to a sentencing hearing in criminal matters, where the guilt is established and then you go back into court and the judge hears the party’s submissions on what the sentence should be, so it will be similar to that.

“Clearly, if City are found not to have broken any rules, then there won’t be any need for the sanction hearing and that will be the end of that, subject to any appeals by the Premier League.”

Premier League rivals will be ‘upset’

Former Everton chief Keith Wyness has said that he understands why City’s Premier League rivals will be upset with the hearing being conducted behind closed doors. Any information from the hearing is not expected to be public until a verdict is reached, despite the money being spent on the case by the Premier League.

“I can understand if the other clubs are upset,” Wyness told Football Insider. “If you’re paying the bill, you have a right to see what’s going on.

“This will be deducted from the overall broadcasting share, so if it’s £20million in legal fees – that’s a million from each club. But due to legal proceedings being as they are, they’ve decided it will be held in secret.

“Clubs have every right to be upset because they don’t know if their money is being well-spent.

“You don’t know if the Premier League have hired the wrong lawyers, or have spent too much on lawyers.

“In the recent Everton case, the Premier League had their knuckles wrapped because they spent five times more on expert witnesses than Everton. There is a case that if you’re spending someone else’s money, you’re not quite as careful.

“With the Premier League having a blank cheque, there’s not much accountability. Yes, there is a reason to be angry and question it – but the reality is that the clubs aren’t going to have much say.”