By Jennifer Amarachi
Manchester City has faced with relegation threat from the Premier League as a hearing into 115 alleged violations of Financial Fair Play laws begins in early September.
The charges, which date back to 2009, have placed a pall over the club, which has seen enormous success under Pep Guardiola, winning 15 major championships since his hiring in 2016.
The possible penalties for Manchester City are severe, with journalist Martyn Ziegler noting that if the most serious claims are proven, the team may be relegated or lose big points.
This issue parallels recent penalties levied on other clubs, like Everton and Nottingham Forest, for similar but less complex violations.
According to TeamTalk, the hearing will span more than ten weeks, with the ruling due in early January 2024.
Meanwhile, City has filed its own legal complaint against the Premier League over linked party transaction restrictions, which will be heard within the next fortnight.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges, the
odds of Manchester City getting relegated this season have been reduced from 100/1 to 28/1, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Despite the uncertainty, Manchester City captain Kyle Walker is still focused on the team’s on-field performance. Walker, speaking to BBC Radio Five before to the recent developments, voiced confidence in City’s capacity to win the Premier League for the fifth consecutive season.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an ego, but we’ve done this now four times in a row – this is our trophy to lose,” Walker said.
“For us to go and do four in a row off the back of a Treble was a great achievement. Now, why can’t we go and do five in a row? That’s the motivation we have to create from us as a group of players, from me as a captain,” he added.
