The first ray of sunshine is breaking through the dark clouds that have shrouded the Premier League for three and a half years, but Independent panel delivers harsh verdict against Manchester City Little has been done to clear up the fog surrounding the past, present and future of England’s top flight.
City insist they are still awaiting the panel’s final decision and the Premier League has yet to issue a formal statement, a reminder that the expectation of a guilty verdict on 114 of the 115 charges will not end the process. There had long been expectations that City would appeal any negative result. To do this, a new three-member panel needs to be formed, selected by Murray Rosen KC, chairman of the alliance’s justice panel. In the meantime, any sanctions will be put on hold.
The game itself will continue to be in an even more contrasting state since the Premier League first brought charges in February 2023. Since the inconsistency of late 2024 and early 2025, every win, draw and defeat for Enzo Maresca’s side could mean everything in the title race, which they have spent more than $1 billion to maintain. Have the independent panels effectively handed the title to Arsenal? Can Fulham, Coventry or even Tottenham get some manna from heaven in their relegation battle? Or will everything this team does prove to be ineffective at the end of a season — maybe not even this season — and end with an expulsion.
More than ever, the football before us has an asterisk penciled next to it. It’s not a simple question of whether a club over budget will score a few more or fewer points than expected. The issues surrounding Manchester City are more existential. If their appeal proves unsuccessful, what would be a fair sanction for a club proven to have disregarded the basic premise of a level playing field?
That is, even less so on issues that are beyond the Premier League’s remit. Bloomberg reported last month British officials fear City’s ongoing legal proceedings will damage relations with the United Arab Emirates, where Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan owns the club.
While the question of what happens next will energize Premier League boardrooms, for fans across the country it is a moment of regret, or indeed anger at what might have happened. In the 17 years since the allegations were made, City have won 20 major trophies. How many titles could this club win if it didn’t artificially lift itself into financial parity with the Premier League giants?
For five years, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have hammered out every major recruitment move, building an impeccable squad just to go head-to-head with Pep Guardiola. In any other league, they have more to offer than a couple of league titles (which the latter won after Klopp was knocked out), a European Cup and a few domestic trinkets. Arsenal have since gone through much the same experience. Even if the group imposes one of the toughest sanctions and strips City of the title, it would be a hollow victory for these clubs. The alternative is the dismal Serie A season of 2005, which might be a more fitting stain on the history of English football.
While the history books may be rewritten, these experiences will forever be tainted. Crystanbul, “Aguerooooo”, the comeback against Aston Villa: for neutrals, especially Manchester City fans, these are moments that require radical hardwiring. What you may have always suspected deep down must now be reflected in every story for the past 15+ years.
Since sovereign wealth was allowed into the game in September 2008, the fissures in English football are now evident. The direction of this season has never seemed more unclear, but it’s not just the future. Regardless of what penalties may follow, if the appeal is unsuccessful, they will not be able to clear up the past 17 years of the league that have been distorted by these violations. Possible fines, deductions, etc. will be paid and eventually removed. But the consequences will last forever.