According to *The Telegraph*, Manchester United and other Premier League clubs might soon be financially supporting the league’s ongoing legal case against Manchester City. This case, which has been unfolding for several years, focuses on City’s alleged breaches of league regulations. A major concern for the clubs involved is that their financial contributions to the case are “non-recoverable,” meaning they will not be reimbursed regardless of the outcome.
The Premier League has charged Manchester City with 115 violations spanning from 2009 to 2023. According to the BBC, these charges include 54 instances where the club allegedly failed to provide accurate financial information between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and 14 instances related to misreporting payments to players and managers. Additionally, City is accused of violating UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation between 2018 and 2023. These allegations were initially reported by the German publication *Der Spiegel*, although Manchester City has denied the claims, arguing that the evidence against them was unlawfully obtained.
Central to the case is the accusation that Manchester City inflated sponsorship deals to disguise additional payments to players and managers, thereby gaining a financial edge that has contributed to their recent successes, including their 2023 treble win under manager Pep Guardiola. The case is expected to be handled privately, with a verdict anticipated by early 2025. Premier League chief Richard Masters has emphasized the importance of resolving this matter, which was first made public in February 2023.
If Manchester City is found guilty of these charges, they could face significant penalties, such as relegation, substantial points deductions, or hefty fines. Some experts have even speculated that the club could be stripped of past titles. This possibility would be of particular interest to Manchester United fans, as United finished second to City in three seasons during the period of the alleged violations. Should City’s titles be revoked, it could ignite debate over whether United should be retroactively awarded those championships.
The recent case against Everton, in which the Premier League spent £4.7 million on legal fees and imposed a points deduction, could serve as a precedent for the case against Manchester City. Given the scale of City’s alleged violations, legal costs are expected to be significantly higher, with all 20 Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, sharing the financial burden through deductions from the league’s central broadcast and commercial revenue.
For Manchester United fans, contributing to the case might be seen as a worthwhile investment if it leads to sanctions against Manchester City, potentially restoring a sense of fairness to the competition after years of perceived financial advantage by their rivals.