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Man City hearing into 115 charges to begin next week

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Man City face a nervous few months as the hearing into the charges against them is heard - Reuters/Phil Noble

The hearing into the 115 Premier League charges against Manchester City is set to finally begin on Monday ahead of an expected verdict later this season.

The reigning champions were charged back in February 2023 with multiple alleged breaches of league rules between 2009 and 2023 which, if proven, could result in sanctions ranging from warnings, fines and points deductions to being demoted from the league.

City deny all the charges and the case will be heard by an independent commission over an expected period of around 10 weeks.

Both the Premier League and City have refused to comment on multiple reports – including even from the Premier League’s record goalscorer Alan Shearer – that the hearing will begin on Monday, subject to any final legal delays.

Arbitration into a separate claim by City against the Premier League’s associated party transaction rules was heard during the summer but no verdict has yet been made public.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters admitted last month that it was “time to resolve” the ongoing case of the 115 charges against City. “I think it’s self-evident that the case needs to be heard and answered,” he said.

There has been a concerted effort on all sides to keep the hearing confidential until the commission’s final verdict which will be published on the Premier League website. Evidence will be heard in private followed by a period of time for the panel to consider their verdict.

The charges largely relate to City’s finances and the rules around the information that was required by the Premier League between 2009 and 2018.

City, who have won the Premier League eight times since 2011, issued a statement last year in which they said that they had engaged extensively and provided vast “detailed materials” to the Premier League.

“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position,” said the statement.