Everything said about Man City 115 charges after lawyer issues 'severe' warning amid Arsenal wait

With 15 months now having passed since Manchester City were officially informed of the 115 financial charges facing them from the Premier League, plenty has been said. In that time though, its fair to say Pep Guardiola and his players have done the talking on the pitch following a treble-winning 2022/23 season and a fourth consecutive Premier League title picked up just a few weeks ago.

However, that could all be in vain if the Premier League's lengthy investigation deems that City are in breach of financial rules which may result in heavy punishments being dished out. The charges are in relation to financial wrongdoings between 2009 and 2018 with City having already been under investigation since 2019.

The latest update, while a separate issue, has seen City launch legal action against the Premier League over Associated Party Transaction (APT) regulations with the hearing for City's challenge against APT kicking off on Monday.

With that in mind, football.london has taken a look at everything that has been said on the 115 charges and City's latest legal decision as Arsenal's wait looks set to go on.

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'They will suffer very severe action'

Speaking to talkSPORT, former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson is concerned that the club will not come out on top in their ongoing legal tussle. "I just think competition law arguments of this nature are esoteric, fine-margin calls and therefore the chances of them overturning a set of rules that have been put in place following a vote is going to be a challenge for City," he recently admitted.

On City's 115 charges, he added: "If you go back to what the rulebook looked like at the time in which City are accused of these breaches, there were no rules about Associated Party Transactions. But there's always going to be rules about filing fair accounts.

"There's no set of rules that would permit what City are accused of doing between 2009 and 2018. They're accused of making up their accounts. And if that is proven, then they will suffer very severe action."

Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was also asked about the investigation and whether or not it clouds over City's success with his answer telling. "Of course, it's frustrating," he said.

"I think the referencing is always frustrating. Having it being talked about the way it's being talked about. I can feel for our fanbase, and everyone associated with the club, to have these charges constantly referenced."

He continued: "I think we as a club have to respect that there is a process that we have to go through, and we're going through it. It's taking longer than what anyone hoped for, but it is what it is, and I've always repeated, let's be judged by the facts, and not by claims and counterclaims."

'Have to be punished'

Plenty of pundits have also offered their stance on City's charges and the potential punishments facing them with Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Roy Keane all having their say.

"Manchester City can fix this straight away," Carragher said. "If you were in their position, and you've got something over you, you want to clear your name. The fact that they are dragging this on makes it worse."

"When you think of Everton, they have two charges now and they admitted their guilt and received 10 points [deduction], which I thought was big. You think of Manchester City with 115 and think of how complex it might be and City fans, you can think of the repercussions compared to what Everton got with 10 points for one charge, being over £105 million, compared to you with 115."

Neville also added: "They say that the Premier League are only picking on the small clubs, what about Manchester City? That's the big elephant in the room, that City's charges haven't been brought forward.

"Accepting that it's a lot more complex, I was uncomfortable that Richard Masters said there has been a date set [for a hearing], but he couldn't reveal when it was. This told me that, and I might be wrong, we're not going to like the date, it's maybe going to be in the summer, beyond this season.

"It's in the interest of Manchester City and everybody to bring that case forward, accelerate the process and do it quicker. It can't go on, and it's damaging to the Premier League. These charges need to be brought forward, even if it's some of the simpler ones out of the 115 there is a date set, but Richard Masters wouldn't share it."

Speaking in February 2023, right as City's charges Keane said: "If they are found guilty then you have to be punished, it's pretty straightforward. Pep... he's obviously speaking to people above him — the chairman, the CEO and people that run the club — he said they've told him they're innocent, then just get on with it."