Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
A verdict appears to be close in the seismic case between Manchester City and the English Premier League.
According to reports in multiple outlets, City have been found guilty of nearly all of the more than 100 financial charges laid by the league, in the latest chapter of a saga that dates back eight years.
Here is how the legal case – which the club has insisted is still “ongoing” – has developed:
2018
November – German outlet Der Spiegel publishes what it says are internal emails from City which it alleged outlined schemes by the club to cover up sources of income in a bid to comply with financial fair play regulations. The information published by Der Spiegel was unearthed by the Football Leaks website, founded by Rui Pinto – a Portuguese computer hacker. City did not dispute the authenticity of the emails but said the club would not be providing comment on “out-of-context materials purportedly hacked or stolen from City Football Group and Manchester City personnel and associated people”. European soccer’s governing body UEFA starts a review of the case, which also sparks a Premier League investigation.
2019
March 7 – As Der Spiegel continues to publish internal City documents, UEFA opens a formal investigation. City say the opening of the investigation is “an opportunity to bring to an end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out-of-context publication of City emails”.
May 14 – City say they have provided “comprehensive proof” financial regulations were not broken and the accusations are “entirely false”.
2020
February 14 – City banned from the Champions League for two seasons by UEFA for “serious breaches” of spending rules and failing to co-operate with investigators. City also fined 30 million euros ($A49 million). City called UEFA’s investigation “flawed” and announce plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
July 13 – City overturn Champions League ban after CAS upholds the club’s appeal, saying some UEFA allegations were not proven and others were “time-barred”. CAS imposes a 10 million euros fine on City for failing to co-operate with independent investigators.
2023
February 6 – City referred to an independent commission by the Premier League, which alleges more than 100 breaches of financial rules by the club, including providing misleading information about finances from 2009-18 and a subsequent failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation. City say there is a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to counter the allegations.
May 24 – City win the Premier League for a fifth time in six seasons and manager Pep Guardiola says he wants the financial charges dealt with “as soon as possible”.
September 11 – Rui Pinto given a suspended prison sentence of four years after being convicted by a Lisbon court of five counts of unauthorised entry into computer systems, three counts of intercepting correspondence for accessing emails, and one count of attempted extortion. During his trial, Pinto admitted being behind the information published on the website that was set up in 2015 but argued he was a whistleblower, not a criminal.
2024
September 16 – An independent commission, comprising three judges, begins the hearing into the Premier League charges against City.
December 6 – The hearing ends after 12 weeks, with no announcement over an expected date for the verdict.
2026
September 25 – Multiple outlets report City have been found guilty of all but one of the charges laid by the Premier League.
