Man City lodge challenge against 115 financial rule breaches as barrister in charge is an Arsenal fan

The Premier League announced the charges earlier this year

In February this year, the Premier League announced they had found Man City guilty of "numerous breaches" of financial rules following a four-year investigation into the club.

The Premier League said the 115 breaches had taken place over nine seasons, from the 2009/10 season to the 2017/18 campaign.

They have denied the charges and said at the time that they were "surprised" by them.

Now, they have lodged legal challenges against the charges.

The Times reports that City have raised the dispute in relation to recent changes in the Premier League’s rules, arguing that they should not apply to investigations into alleged rule breaches before then.

The club have also reportedly challenged the involvement of Murray Rosen KC, the head of the Premier League's independent judicial panel, in the case.

On his website he states that he is a member of Arsenal, who led City in the title race for much of this season.

As head of the league’s judicial panel, Rosen will oversee the proceedings which could result in City being hit with a points deduction or even face expulsion from the top flight, and will also select the individuals who will sit alongside him on the commission to consider all of City’s alleged rule breaches.

Some of the main rule breaches Man City have been accused of by the Premier League are:

• The Premier League say that the club breached rules which required them to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position.” This charge relates to club revenue including sponsorship income and operating costs.
• Man City have been accused of breaking rules relating to rules regarding player remuneration from the 2009/10 season to the 2012/13 campaign, and manager remuneration from the same seasons.
• The club have been accused of breaking rules related to Uefa regulations including Financial Fair Play rules from 2013/14 to 2017/18.
• Man City have been accused of breaking Premier League profitability and sustainability rules from 2015/16 to 2017/18.

Man City have also been accused of not cooperating with the Premier League’s investigation.

In 2020, Uefa ruled that Man City were guilty of breaching FFP regulations between 2012 and 2016 and banned the club from European competition for two years. This ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Man City will be able to appeal the final judgement of the independent commission, but, unlike Uefa’s ruling, they will not be able to take their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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