Manchester City have launched legal challenges against the 115 financial charges they are facing, which includes a dispute over the involvement of a barrister who is an Arsenal fan. In February, the Premier League charged Manchester City with 115 rule breaches, primarily concerning their finances. These allegations were referred to an independent commission after a four-year investigation that began in 2009/10. If found guilty, Manchester City could face severe punishment, such as expulsion from the Premier League. The club has hired Lord Pannick KC as their defense lawyer, signaling the seriousness of the charges.
On Thursday, the Times reported that Manchester City’s representatives are “disputing the legality of the investigation and the involvement of the barrister who is in charge of the disciplinary process.” They are arguing that recent changes in the Premier League’s rules should not apply to investigations into alleged rule breaches before then. Additionally, they have taken exception to Murray Rosen KC, the head of the Premier League’s independent judicial panel, being a known Arsenal supporter. This could potentially lead to bias, as Rosen is responsible for appointing the chair of the disciplinary commission and, under the current rules, could appoint himself. This legal challenge is likely to cause a further delay in the outcome of the case, which was already predicted to take up to four years to conclude.
In 2020, Manchester City’s two-year ban from European competition following a UEFA investigation was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The CAS ruled that some of the charges were time-barred and Manchester City appointed two of the three members on the panel, including its chairman. The majority of 2:1 voted in their favour. However, it is worth noting that Manchester City were not found innocent; rather, the UEFA investigation and proceeding case took too long and breaches against Financial Fair Play could not be prosecuted after five years. Shortly after Manchester City were charged by the Premier League, Pep Guardiola warned that other 19 clubs in the English top flight had set a precedent with this case and cautioned them to be careful in the future.