Fans may be kept waiting as long as four years to find out the results of the Manchester City investigation announced this week, a report has claimed.
The Etihad club were referred by the Premier League to an independent commission on Monday morning, with the governing body noting over 100 breaches of the Premier League rules.
The breaches stretch across a nine year period and essentially accuse the Cityzens of dodging financial fair play, inflating sponsorship deals and paying inappropriate amounts to both players and managers, with the majority of the breaches “in particular with respect to its revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs”.
It follows a four-year investigation that has been ongoing around their rise to prominence, with many questioning how they funded such massive investment without external support that went above and beyond that which UEFA allow.
Manchester City vehemently deny any wrongdoing, and released a statement in which they claim that they “welcome the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.”
However, as per the Times, who initially broke the story, expert Nick De Marco KC has claimed that the process could take ‘between two and four years’ to be resolved, meaning that any effect on this and likely next season is out of the question.
