Man United alerted to Liverpool compensation claim as Man City 115 charges precedent set

Manchester United, and every other English top-flight club, could be owed significant compensation if Manchester City lose their legal battle with the Premier League

Manchester United could be in line for a substantial compensation pay-out if Manchester City lose their legal tussle with the Premier League. In February 2023, the English top-flight charged its then-reigning champions with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations.

The allegations include claims that the club failed to provide accurate financial information and did not cooperate with investigations covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18. Man City have consistently denied any wrongdoing, and they pushed to clear their name before an independent panel.

The proceedings, which took place behind closed doors at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, wrapped up late last year. A three-person panel have been poring over the evidence, with a final judgement still pending.

If Man City are found guilty, Premier League clubs could stand to receive significant compensation. Speaking to TBR Football, football finance expert Kieran Maguire posited that FSG would consider the legal costs a worthwhile investment if it meant the possibility of recouping funds.

The football finance lecturer at Liverpool University also pointed to Everton's recent settlement with Leeds United over lost revenue as a potential benchmark. 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 remained tight-lipped when Sky Sports pressed him for an update on the dispute back in August. Regarding why the English top-flight couldn't speed up 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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