Man City 115 charges precedent set as Liverpool compensation claim made - 'out of control'

Liverpool are patiently waiting to see whether Manchester City came out on top in their dispute with the Premier League

Liverpool and every other English top-flight club could be owed millions in compensation if Manchester City lose their legal battle with the Premier League. In February 2023, the Premier League charged its then-reigning champions with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations.

These include accusations that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and failed to cooperate with investigations spanning nine seasons (2009/10 to 2017/18). Man City denied any wrongdoing, as they looked to prove their innocence in front of an independent panel.

The case, which was heard in private at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, concluded late last year. A three-man panel have been reviewing the evidence, and they're still yet to deliver a final verdict.

It's said that if Man City are found guilty, Premier League clubs could be owed significant compensation. In an interview with TBR Football, football finance expert Kieran Maguire claimed that FSG would be willing to accept the financial burden of a legal challenge if there's a chance they can get compensated.

The football finance lecturer at Liverpool University also suggested that Everton's recent settlement with Leeds United, relating to lost revenue, could set a precedent. Maguire said: "As far as Liverpool are concerned, the legal bill is the cost of doing business.

"They see themselves as one of the clubs who will have been significantly disadvantaged should Man City be found guilty. If we take into account the settlement between Everton and Leeds United, that could be significant precedent.

"But that is if City are found guilty – and that is a big if. And although you wouldn't expect them to say any different, all the noises I am getting from Manchester are very confident.

"If it's going to cost Liverpool £5m but they could potentially get much more if City are found guilty… They will have effectively worked it out on an insurance basis.

"It might be a short-term pain, long-term gain scenario. But the costs have certainly got out of control. Other costs have gone through the roof too, such as utilities and administration at club level."

Richard Masters kept his cards close to his chest when Sky Sports asked him to provide an update on the dispute back in August. On why the English top-flight couldn't expedite the process, the Premier League chief executive said: "I can't answer that specific question.

"What I can tell you about is the system and how it works. I mean, it's an independent judiciary, essentially. So once the allegations, the charge has been put forward, they go before an independent panel, which is independently selected, and they are then in charge of the process and its timings.

"They hear the case, they decide the outcome, and we have no influence over that, over it or its timing. And that's right, if you think from an independence point of view, that there is independent people making those decisions, and we just have to be waiting."

Masters added: "My frustration is irrelevant, really. I mean, I just have to wait, and legal processes rarely take less time than you anticipated, but we have to be patient."

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