Premier League chief executive Richard Masters says it is “time” for the 115 charges against Manchester City to be “heard and answered”.
City were charged in February 2023 with breaking the league’s financial rules following a four-year investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.
Speaking to BBC Sport before the start of the new season, Masters said it was clear the case against the eight-time Premier League champions needed to be resolved for the good of the league.
“It’s been going on for a number of years and I think it’s self-evident that the case needs to be heard and answered,” he said. “It is time now for the case to resolve itself.”
It will be the task of an independent commission to pass judgement, but Masters did not confirm when the hearing would take place, although the trial is expected to begin in the autumn.
City brought a separate legal case against the Premier League, which centres on the league’s associated party transaction (APT) rules. A two-week private arbitration hearing began on June 10.
The regulations are in place to guard against clubs using sponsorship deals with companies linked to their owners to inflate revenue streams and allow more room for spending.
City won the Premier League last season, becoming the first team in the history of English football to win four straight league titles.
They begin their 2024-25 top flight campaign away at Chelsea on Sunday.
(Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League)
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