Premier Leagues Commission over Man. City

Manchester City was accused and charged by the Premier League for involving in various alleged Breaches of Financial terms and conditions. This case was hand overed to an independent commission to investigate further.

Sheikh Mansour, owner of manchester city have been suggested to an independent commission over the charges, with the current league champions titles. “The club din’t oppose the review of this matter by an independent commission, to consider the strong evidence regarding the Breaches that exists in support of its position. They will be planning to look forward to put this issue into rest for once and all”.

The club are alleged to have breached league rules requiring accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”. The club have also been accused of not cooperating with the investigation. However, did release a statement as well, pleading innocence and stating that a review by an independent commission would be welcomed.

The league says the accurate financial information required related to revenue, its related parties and its operating costs including all sponsors.

The second set of alleged breaches also refers to requirements for a club to include full details of player remuneration within the relevant contracts, including seasons 2010-11 to 2015-16. The third set of alleged breaches of Premier League rules requiring clubs to comply with UEFA financial fair play regulations, between 2013-14 to 2017-18.

In 2020, Manchester City had a two-year ban from European football overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), after being handed a suspension by UEFA’s Club Assoication Member in February 2020 for “serious breaches” of club licensing and financial fair play regulations.

The fourth set of alleged breaches relates to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules in seasons 2015-16 to 2017-18 inclusive.

Finally, the club are alleged to have breached league rules requiring member clubs to co-operate with and assist the Premier League with its investigations, from December 2018 until then.

Premier League statement regarding Alleged Breach

The Premier League opened its investigation in 2019 referring alleged Breaches to an independent commission.

The Premier League statement is as follows: “In according to Premier League rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League rules by Manchester City Football Club to a commission under Premier League rule W.3.4.

“Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The members of the commission will be appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League judicial panel, in accordance with Premier League rules W.19, W.20 and W.26.

“The proceedings before the commission will be according with Premier League rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League rule W.82.2, the commission’s final decision will be published on the Premier League’s website.

“This confirmation is made with referring Premier League rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice.”

Man. City’s View on this Commission

As well as expressing their surprise at the charges, Man City also claimed to have provided all the details for commitee to the Premier League’s investigation.

Man City are said to feel that journalists were explained about the charges before they were, while there have been questions regarding the timing of the announcement, given the imminent publication of a white paper by the government that could lead to an independent regulator in football.

It is understood the announcement of the charges was unrelated to the white paper and that no explanations were made before the statement was published on the Premier League website.

The  commission will be formed with three members, under the chairman of the Premier League’s Judical authority Murray Rosen KC.

There will be a commission of Three persons, with highest authority followed by 15 members for the Judicial panel.

Once a judgement is made, the Premier League and Man City will be able to appeal, although it cannot be taken to the CAS.