"Hard" process for the good world of football

The fine world of football is facing a moment that may dictate its future course of investment. The petro-dollars pumped into European football leave traces and they can create problems. Manchester City, one of the world's richest clubs, is at the center of a wide-ranging trial over alleged financial wrongdoing after the club was taken over in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), controlled by Sheikh Mansour of the United Arab Emirates. The Premier League claims the team deliberately broke financial rules set between 2009 and 2018 to boost their sporting performance. During this period, City won the English Championship three times and in the following years won other titles, including the Champions League in 2023. The Premier League referred the case to an independent commission in February 2023, which is now looking into the allegations in a legal battles that could last ten weeks, being considered "the sports trial of the century". This commission, made up of three anonymous members, will assess whether the club has broken financial rules, and the outcome of the trial is expected in early 2025.

• Major allegations and risks to the club

Manchester City face a total of 115 charges, of which 80 relate to financial offenses between 2009 and 2018 and 35 relate to a lack of co-operation with the investigation. The club is accused of providing inaccurate financial data, particularly related to sponsorships from the airline Etihad, which would have allowed it to circumvent Premier League and UEFA financial fair play rules. Another important aspect of the investigation is the possible payment of undeclared salaries to former coach Roberto Mancini and some players, which would have constituted another breach of financial rules.

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• Manchester City risk expulsion from the Premier League

If the allegations are confirmed, the sanctions to which the club is exposed are very severe, ranging from simple reprimands to exclusion from the Premier League. City could also be relegated or have points deducted from the table, like other recently sanctioned clubs such as Everton, who lost eight points for exceeding the league's financial threshold. The trial represents an unprecedented challenge for Manchester City and the Premier League, and the final decision could have a significant impact on the club's future. Last season, Everton lost eight points in the table for losses that exceeded the threshold authorized by the English league: six points for the period up to 2021-2022 and a further two for the period ending in 2022-2023.