Lawyer gets Man City 115 charges verdict after ‘chatting with insiders’
With Manchester City getting ready for a new chapter after it was revealed that Pep Guardiola is planning to leave, the club’s 115 charges over breaking financial rules have taken a new twist.
City seemed to let the Premier League title slip away after drawing with Everton, which opened the door for Arsenal. Now, two points behind with only one game to go, City looks like they’ll focus on winning the cups instead. Meanwhile, some club legends have already announced they’re leaving as preparations for next season begin.
Things might get even tougher, though. Football lawyer Tom Murray shared his thoughts on the 115 charges City faces. Some people, like Gary Neville, are saying City might be cleared because they might have gotten some hints from the league. But Murray thinks the club will be found guilty of at least some of the breaches.
On the Price of Football podcast, Murray said, “I think Manchester City are going to be found liable, in breach of something. With so many charges, I don’t think they can get away with it.” He didn’t say which charges, but he believes there are just too many issues for City to be completely clear.
As for penalties, that’s a whole other story. The Premier League might introduce new rules letting clubs settle breaches quietly instead of going through a public fight, which could mean no points deducted for City.
The saga is far from over, though. Fans are frustrated because the case has dragged on, especially since other clubs like Aston Villa, Everton, and Nottingham Forest have already been punished. Murray thinks it might take a long time still, as City’s lawyers are expected to appeal every decision, possibly stretching the case over years.
“No one really knows when the final decision will come out,” Murray said. “I’ve talked to lawyers on the case, and even they don’t have a timeline. It’s hard to guess.”
If things go really badly, City could face serious trouble, with reports saying Sheikh Mansour might have to sell the club if they get kicked out of England’s top league. But if Neville and others are right, Guardiola’s time at City will end on a high note as he walks out of the stadium for the last time this weekend.