Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has provided an update regarding Manchester City’s 130 charges for allegedly breaching Financial Fair Play rules.
City initially faced 115 charges last February, which increased to 130 later due to an administrative issue.
The current Premier League champions have strongly denied these charges. A hearing took place between September and December, and a decision is expected soon.
Pep Guardiola mentioned earlier this month that he anticipates finding out the club’s fate in March.
The Spanish manager has stated his intention to address the situation publicly once the process concludes.
However, Premier League boss Masters offered a brief update on Thursday, suggesting that the independent panel requires “time” to reach a conclusion.
When questioned about the case at the Business of Football Summit, he stated: “The disciplinary panel needs to be given time to come to their decision.”
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes that a significant points deduction, potentially leading to relegation, is the most probable outcome if City are found guilty.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live, “A points deduction would be the most likely outcome should the club be found guilty.”
“Regarding the severity of the points deduction, considering Everton initially received a 10-point deduction for exceeding spending limits by approximately £10-12 million in a single season, I believe that to serve as a deterrent for the rest of football, the penalty must be substantial.”
“We are likely looking at a deduction in the range of 60 to 100 points, which would effectively ensure relegation from the Premier League to the lower leagues of the EFL.”
Man City recently won a legal dispute with the Premier League concerning “unlawful” financial regulations.
This significant ruling could potentially lead to numerous compensation claims from other clubs and create a crisis within the league.
