After the international break and FA Cup quarter-finals, top flight fixtures resume on Tuesday but the elephant in the room remains a resolution to the biggest issue hovering over the Premier League at the moment.
But there’s an expectation from those in the game that the verdict will arrive before the end of the season, raising the possibility of a scenario where a City guilty verdict on a substantial number of the charges – along with a sizeable points deduction as punishment – significantly changes the complexion of the race for the top five and even the relegation battle.
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Experts say the Premier League finds itself in a “crazy situation” and have told The i Paper there’s a feeling that the league could become “incredibly litigious” in the coming months, with legal bills easily hitting nine figures, if the Manchester City case is proven.
City, of course, have been strident in maintaining their innocence on all of the 130 charges but rivals have begun the complicated process of “war gaming” possible responses to the verdict. “For everybody in the Premier League it is just a waiting game at the moment but retrospective compensation is something that is being considered by everybody,” well-connected football finance expert Kieran Maguire says.
West Ham broke Premier League rules in signing Carlos Tevez (Photo: Getty)
Not quite. Way back in 2009 Sheffield United successfully brought legal action against West Ham after the Hammers broke Premier League rules over their acquisition of Carlos Tevez – which resulted in a fine but no point deduction.
Perhaps more relevant, though, is Burnley’s upcoming compensation case against Everton over their PSR breach. The Clarets’ case – which is due to be heard by an independent commission featuring a three-person panel this summer – is that the delay in applying a points deduction despite breaches that covered the season when they were both fighting relegation had an impact on who stayed up. It is a case being watched eagerly by clubs in the Premier League.
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Sports lawyer Hurtado says the case is “complex and unprecedented”. “It would first need to determine if Burnley are entitled to compensation and whether there was causation which would largely be a direct cause-and-effect relationship between Everton’s PSR breach and Burnley’s relegation. In addition to this, the tribunal would have to consider the fairness of the case and the real impact of Everton’s PSR breaches on the competition.
“To determine a potential compensation, the tribunal would consider the loss of revenue and loss of opportunities; while also factoring mitigating facts such as the parachute payments received by Burnley after relegation.”
Burnley were relegated from the Premier League in 2022 (Photo: Reuters)
As well as clubs suing other clubs, aggrieved parties could look at taking action against the league itself for the way the rules are being applied.
In the short-term, though, it will give us an idea of whether Premier League rivals who missed out on Champions League qualification or titles during City’s era of success may have a case.
“Just like relegation, failing to qualify for European competitions and a league standing can impact club revenues and all the potential claims in Manchester City’s case should they be found guilty of the alleged charges would be based on the same concept – a loss of revenue and opportunities due to breaches of sustainability rules.”
What is the latest on the City case – and what is everyone saying?
“It’s strange and it’s frustrating. I’ve been put on stand by about 10 times because ‘We’ve heard something is coming today’,” Maguire says.
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“He believes there is a very, very tightly run regime at present so anybody who claims to be ‘in the know’ or who has heard something is talking nonsense.”
“We could still have the crazy situation of the judgement coming out but the tariffs being delayed, which would be incredible,” Maguire says.
It feels like we are heading into unchartered end-of-season territory.
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