Last month, it was reported that Manchester City had been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023.
Chelsea face a complicated procedure to claim financial compensation after Manchester City were found to have breached the Premier League’s financial rules. News broke last month that City had been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges they faced for breaching the league’s financial rules, prompting speculation they could face unprecedented sanctions.
The city has been accused of failing to provide accurate financial information for nine seasons since 2009. They were also accused of failing to provide full details of bonuses in player contracts between 2010-11 and 2015-16 and failing to co-operate with a Premier League investigation between 2018 and 2023.
The Etihad club have appealed the decision and continue to deny any wrongdoing, but the issue of compensation is linked to the outcome of the proceedings, particularly after Burnley received a £35m bonus from Everton after it was found to have breached financial controls in the 2021/22 season.
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Everton are appealing the decision, but the Telegraph reports Chelsea have refused to give notice back in September 2024, just ahead of the six-year limit on giving notice to seek damages if City are found guilty.
While this may not exclude Chelsea and other clubs from claiming compensation, it may complicate the procedure.
The Telegraph also reports that Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, the four clubs who retain the right to seek compensation, were all notified of the guilty verdict before the rest of the league.
The report claims that the executives of the four clubs were asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement to review the decision and the Premier League declined to comment.
In an open letter to supporters following the verdict, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said “nothing has changed” and the club’s belief and determination to prove its innocence is as strong as it was when the case began.
He said: “Although some people jump to conclusions and there is so much noise around us, nothing has changed.
“We have faced difficulties together before and won. There are many people who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity.
“After this international break, we have some exciting times to look forward to. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight’s time and then host Paris Saint-Germain again at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League – moments that allow us to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. As always, we thank you for your continued support.”
The statement came after Al Mubarak addressed the supporters: “I have been part of this club for 18 years. I have had the honor of being with you at the Etihad, Wembley and Istanbul. This club is important to me and you have shown and told me time and time again how much Manchester is. City is important to you. That is why I am writing to you today.
“Following the media coverage on Friday, many of you will be spending the evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So am I. What I say to my family is this: The Premier League process still has a long way to go and our belief and our will to prove the club’s innocence is as strong as it was at the beginning.
“There is so much I would like to share with you to help you understand why we are so confident in our position. However, the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means that I cannot do so at this time. Even this letter has gone through several legal checks to ensure it is appropriate.
“I ask you to read carefully the statement we made on Friday and the statement we made in February 2023. Every word is important and true.”