Man City relegation verdict latest as Premier League deadline approaches

A new development has been found in the case surrounding Manchester City's 115 alleged breaches of financial rules. The charges were presented by the Premier League in February 2023, but a private hearing didn't start until mid-September of this year.

With the hearing being completed in private, no information has been made publicly available and therefore few updates have been made on the case in recent months. The hearing is expected to last 10 weeks - finishing in early December - although a verdict is not set to be announced until the end of the season.

City deny all changes against them and 'robustly defend' their position on the matter. Having seen little to no updates given, there has been a major update on the case.

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According to The Times, 'a number' of Premier League clubs have reserved the right to seek compensation against City if there is a guilty verdict on any of the charges. Although there is no indication whether City are guilty or not, it is reported that the decision is due to a potential six-year statute of limitation period for clubs to take legal action.

Elsewhere, high-profile sports lawyer Nick De Marco KC, who helped Leicester in their recent battle with the Premier League, believes City should not be relegated by off-field adjudicators.

Proceedings for City's hearing have the power to directly impose fines and points deductions while also being able to recommend relegation as per a members vote.

City - whose legal team is being led by Lord Pannick KC - are confident proceedings will not get to this stage, denying all of the charges in full and vowing to clear their name "once and for all".

De Marco told The Times: "In my view things as important as promotion and relegation should be determined on the pitch. It spoils the game for it to be determined by people like me; lawyers and accountants and ex-lawyers who are arbitrators, hearing legal arguments behind closed doors. I’m going to make my money out of it because that’s my business but I don't necessarily think it's right."