MANCHESTER CITY LODGE APPEAL AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF PREMIER LEAGUE BREACHES
Read Time:2 Minute, 0 Second
By: Fasasi Hammad
Manchester City have confirmed that they are appealing an independent commission’s ruling that the club breached Premier League financial regulations.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, found Manchester City guilty of arranging what the commission described as “sham contracts” to circumvent financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The commission ruled that the club was guilty of all the alleged rule breaches and all but one of the charges relating to its failure to comply with the Premier League’s investigation.
Manchester City lodged an appeal on Thursday, saying it had an “irrefutable body of evidence” to challenge the verdict.
In a statement, the club said the commission’s findings contained what it described as “clear material errors” in law, principle and fact.
“The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe,” Manchester City said.
“The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case.
“We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”
Under new Premier League rules, an appeal hearing must take place within 12 weeks of an appeal being lodged, while a decision is expected within 30 days of the hearing. The hearing itself can last no longer than five days.
A new appeal board will be appointed by the chair of the Premier League’s judicial panel. The board may allow or dismiss the appeal or issue any other order it considers appropriate.
Meanwhile, the Football Association (FA) said on Friday that it would consider potential action following the ruling, which it said had “significant implications for the integrity of the game.”
The FA said it would continue to monitor the proceedings, while the Premier League has yet to announce any sanctions against Manchester City.
Any punishment will be determined in a separate confidential hearing involving the independent commission. It remains unclear whether that hearing will take place alongside the appeal process or after it.
Potential sanctions reportedly include a fine, suspension or points deduction. Expulsion from the Premier League would require a special vote by shareholders, with at least 15 of the other 19 clubs required to support such a decision.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0