It’s a question that many fans are asking, and the frustration is completely understandable. For clubs that feel they have been following the rules, seeing a competitor under a cloud for so long, especially one that has been so dominant, must be incredibly difficult. The perceived lack of a swift verdict, particularly when compared to the Everton case, can feel like a real injustice.
The delay in the Manchester City case, however, comes down to a few key factors that make it fundamentally different from Everton’s situation.
1. The Sheer Scale and Complexity: The Everton case, while serious, involved a specific set of financial rules and a much smaller number of alleged breaches. The Manchester City case is on a completely different level. There are 115 charges spanning a nine-year period, from 2009 to 2018. The allegations are incredibly complex, touching on everything from financial reporting and manager remuneration to cooperation with the investigation. This means the independent commission has to sift through an enormous amount of evidence, including financial documents, emails, and witness testimonies. It’s a monumental task that simply can’t be rushed. Legal experts have said that a case of this magnitude was always going to take a year or more for a verdict after the hearing concluded.
2. The Nature of the Charges: Everton’s charges were related to breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). These are specific, quantifiable rules about how much a club can lose over a three-year period. While there are arguments to be made, the numbers are, in many ways, straightforward.
The charges against Manchester City are much more intricate. They involve claims of providing inaccurate financial information, which implies deception. This is a much harder thing to prove and requires a meticulous examination of a decade’s worth of financial dealings and contracts. The legal arguments on both sides are incredibly sophisticated, involving top lawyers from around the country, which adds to the time needed for the commission to reach a conclusion.
3. The Process Is Out of the Premier League’s Hands: Once the charges are formally brought, the case is handed over to an independent commission. The Premier League, despite bringing the charges, has no say in the timeline. The commission, made up of independent legal professionals, sets its own schedule, hears the evidence, and deliberates on the verdict. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has stated publicly that his frustration with the delay is “irrelevant” because the process is designed to be independent. This is to ensure a fair and unbiased outcome, free from pressure from the league itself.
What This Means for Other Clubs: For fans of clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, and others who feel they have been competing on a level playing field, the delay is undoubtedly frustrating. It feels like a sword of Damocles hanging over the entire competition. If Manchester City is found guilty, the potential sanctions could include a significant points deduction, or even a different type of punishment. This could fundamentally alter the history of recent Premier League seasons. The longer the wait, the more it feels like a lingering question mark over past achievements and future seasons.
The Everton case, while much quicker, has also shown the power of the independent commission. Their quick and decisive action, even if the punishment was later adjusted on appeal, shows that the system can and does work for more straightforward cases. The fact that the Manchester City case is taking so much longer is a testament to the complexity of the allegations, not a sign of inaction.
In the end, while the wait is painful for everyone, especially for the clubs that stand to gain from any potential sanctions, the independence and thoroughness of the process are what will ensure the final verdict, whenever it comes, is a robust and fair one.
