The case against Manchester City is now more than three and a half years old, and clubs across the Premier League are growing impatient.
Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick spoke to BBC Sport on the eve of the new Premier League season, saying the league and its clubs want the process resolved. Manchester City face more than 100 alleged breaches of the league's financial rules. An independent commission has not yet published a ruling, even though the disciplinary hearing concluded over a year and a half ago. City have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Garlick was measured but direct. "It has gone on for a while," he said. "Everybody — the league and the teams — would want the clarity around what's going to happen next. But it's not something that I can control. It's not something that I can speculate on. And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly."
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters also acknowledged the delays. "I do accept it's taking longer than expected, and I understand that people want to find out as soon as possible what's going on, but I simply can't provide that," he said. Masters described the case as "hugely complex" and added that the league must follow a defined process. "Our rules are very clear — we have to follow the process, and there's only one real clear route through, which is to allow that process to reach its natural conclusion," he said.
Officials at other Premier League clubs, speaking privately to BBC Sport in the 24 hours before Garlick's comments, also expressed frustration, while acknowledging the process runs independently of the league. One official said the Premier League should be "actively seeking to put in place a better system" to ensure speedier resolutions. Another raised the financial burden of the prolonged legal fight, noting that the league spent £45 million on legal bills during the 2023-24 season on disputes over its financial regulations.
The charges City are contesting cover several areas. They include an alleged failure to provide accurate financial information regarding player and manager payments from the 2009-10 through 2017-18 seasons, alleged failure to comply with UEFA's financial fair play rules from 2013-14 to 2017-18, and alleged breaches of the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules from 2015-16 to 2017-18. City also face multiple charges that they failed to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation between December 2018 and February 2023.
The stakes extend beyond City. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham reportedly served legal notices on City in 2024, reserving the right to seek compensation if the club is found guilty. Some clubs have estimated potential losses of more than £100 million. Arsenal finished as Premier League runners-up to City in both 2023 and 2024, losing the latter title by just two points.
No date has been set for the commission to publish its ruling.
