'Couldn't be more serious' - Man City 115 charges warning sent as Arsenal await verdict

Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson has warned his old employers that the charges they are facing from the Premier League could 'not be more serious' if they are upheld.

In February 2023, City were charged with an unprecedented 115 breaches of the Premier League's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. These breaches date back to 2009 and allege that the Manchester club provided inaccurate financial information to the Premier League including how players and managers were paid.

They have also been charged with failing to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation between 2018 and 2023. City has always firmly denied any wrongdoing but as of yet, they have been unable to portray their side of the story due to the delay on beginning the hearing.

Premier League chief Richard Masters has confirmed there is a date pencilled in for the hearing but refused to name when that would be. Meanwhile, speculation has grown as to what could happen to City if they are found guilty of the charges with titles being stripped and automatic relegation considered a potential punishment.

In an interview with the i, Borson believes relegation from the Premier League would be inevitable if the Blues are found guilty. He explained: "If the charges are proven, it couldn’t be any more serious," he said.

"That [relegation for City] seems even more obvious after the way sporting advantage was appraised and dealt with in the relatively simple [Everton and Nottingham Forest] PSR [Profit and Sustainability Rules] cases. It feels as though there’s nothing left to say until the case is heard.

READ MORE: What Arteta said on City's 115 charges

READ MORE: City charges verdict has already been given

"I understand people want it to be quicker but it’s not possible and people are going over the same thing time and time again. I don’t know what the solution is in fairness.

"If you’re not familiar with litigation of this sort, why would you know how complicated it is or how long this would take?" The delay surrounding the hearing is believed to be down to the complexity and historical nature of the charges against City.