Revealed: The top-secret location of Manchester City’s ‘trial of the century’ which could get them kicked out of the Premier League… as case over their 115 financial rule-break charges begins
This is the top-secret location of Manchester City’s ‘trial match of the century’, which could result in the club being relegated from the Premier League.
City’s trial on 115 charges alleging breaches of Premier League financial rules begins today at a secret location in central London.
The independent hearing is expected to last about 10 weeks. The city strongly denies all charges. A verdict is reportedly not expected until spring 2025.
Fifty-four of the charges relate to City’s alleged failure to provide accurate financial information about the club’s income.
And Mail Sport can reveal that their trial is taking place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, just a two-minute walk from St Paul’s Cathedral.
Man City’s trial will take place at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in central London
It’s an expensive day out: you’ll pay £13.95 if you want a sandwich there, and £35 for buffet meals
Manchester City faces 115 charges for breaching Financial Fair Play rules and regulations
Manchester City’s lead lawyer for the trial in central London is Lord Pannick
The self-proclaimed ‘world’s best dispute resolution centre’ is an expensive day out. It’ll set you back £13.95 if you want to buy a sandwich, while ‘refreshments’ cost £11.95.
Buffet meals, hot or cold, will cost you around £35.
Prices to book the main room in the building start at £1,125 per day and can go up to £4,845. There are over 70 rooms to choose from.
All of the charges against Manchester City are serious and if they are proven to have breached all or part of the charges then serious consequences could be expected.
The charges against the club are being investigated, assessed and analysed by an independent commission.
Of the 115 charges, 54 are against City, namely failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information to the league covering the period 2009-10 to 2017-18.
This gives the FFP a ‘true and fair’ picture of a club’s income, including sponsorship deals, and operational costs, including player salaries.
Thirty-five of the charges against City relate to their alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation into their conduct between December 2018 and February 2023.
Every club in the Premier League signs a code of conduct. This means that clubs must behave and provide the league with accurate and up-to-date reports. These reports are audited annually.
Thirty-five of the charges are for allegedly failing to cooperate with the investigation while the city was securing titles
A verdict on the 115 charges against Manchester City is not expected until spring/summer 2025
| Type of infringement | Number of infringement charges | Start date of the process | Date of decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18 | 54 | Monday, September 16, 2024 | Spring or summer 2025 |
| Failure to provide accurate financial reports on player and manager remuneration from 2009-10 to 2017-18 | 14 | ” ” | ” ” |
| Failure to comply with UEFA regulations, including the UEFA Club and Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations | 5 | ” ” | ” ” |
| Breaches of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules from the 2015-16 to the 2017-18 season | 7 | ” ” | ” ” |
| Failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to date | 35 | ” ” | ” ” |
In recent years, City have been accused of inflating the value of their sponsorships, which are linked to their owners.
They also face 14 charges of failing to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager remuneration for those seasons.
The Manchester club also faces 35 charges for failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to the present.
It is almost six years since the German newspaper Der Spiegel published the first allegations, based on documents obtained by the company through Football Leaks.
The two companies were already under investigation for their practices between 2019 and 2023, with the findings resulting in them being fined £8.6 million.
Potential sanctions for City could range from a points deduction to relegation, if the most serious charges, relating to an alleged failure to provide accurate financial information, are proven. Everton were given an eight-point deduction for exceeding allowable financial losses.
The prospect of widespread litigation from other clubs could also follow. Teams that have lost a title or a European place could claim compensation. Theoretically, any Premier League club could claim to be a victim during the nine seasons in question.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters (pictured) has played a central role in the case
If City are found guilty, there is the prospect of extensive legal action from other clubs