Man City May Not See a Decision Until End of May in FFP Case

The financial case against Man City might extend until the end of May, claims former club adviser Stefan Borson.

Man City may not “get an initial decision before the end of May” in their financial fair play (FFP) case, according to former Citizens financial adviser Stefan Borson. An independent commission hearing to examine 115 charges laid by the Premier League against Man City started in September.

The Premier League opened an investigation into Man City back in 2018 and after a number of legal delays, charges were finally laid in February 2023 and the club was referred to an independent commission. The charges relate to accurately reporting financial information, including the value of sponsorship deals, details of manager and player pay information, and a club’s responsibility to adhere to UEFA’s financial regulations and the league’s own profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). They are also accused of failing to cooperate with the investigation. In all, there are charges for every season between 2009-10 and 2022-23.

Man City issued a statement strenuously denying the allegations on the day the charges were brought, saying they welcomed an independent commission “to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of our position.” The club added: “As such, we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

Touching on reports that it has turned into a “split hearing,” former Man City financial adviser Borson insists that “even if there is a decision before March, there is still some way to go.” Borson told Football Insider: “I think the key takeaway from the fact it’s gone this duration is that it’s going to take a long time to get the decision because of the volume of documentation and the number of witnesses presenting to the panel.”

If this were in the courts, for something like a 12-week trial hearing, it could easily take over a year to get the decision. You would finish the trial and then just sit back and wait. At some point a year or more later, the decision comes out. I doubt it will be a year in this case before we get a decision, but I think it’s unlikely now that we are going to get anything before the end of March. We may not even get an initial decision before the end of May.

We also understand from some of the coverage from The Lawyer publication that this is a split hearing. Within that split hearing, that means you are going to have liability, which is what’s going on now, and then if City are found to be liable, there will be something on sentencing and sanctioning. Even if there is a decision before March, there is still some way to go.”