The Premier League's protracted investigation into Manchester City has descended into what can only be described as a farce, with the club's 115 charges still unresolved more than a year after the hearing concluded.
A Club in Limbo, a League in Disrepute
While Manchester City continue their relentless pursuit of silverware on the pitch, a monumental cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Etihad Stadium. It has now been over a year since the independent commission finished its hearing into the 115 Premier League charges levelled against the club, yet there is no sign of a verdict. This interminable delay is actively undermining the credibility of England's top football division.
Manager Pep Guardiola could only respond with a sarcastic chuckle when recently pressed on the matter, quipping that the decision-makers "must be busy." His focus, like the club's, remains on football. Since the charges were first announced, City have achieved an historic Treble and become the first English club to win four consecutive top-flight titles.
The Timeline of a Dragging Saga
The sheer timescale involved is staggering. The charges themselves were laid close to three years ago, in February 2023. Some of the alleged financial irregularities date back nearly seventeen years. In the intervening period, City have operated with remarkable normality: buying and selling players, tying Erling Haaland to a long-term deal, expanding their stadium, and seeing Guardiola sign a new contract.
The club's latest accounts made a brief, standard reference to the "ongoing process," reiterating its longstanding position of welcoming an impartial review based on its "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence." Conversely, the Premier League must have been convinced of a serious case to bring such an unprecedented number of charges.
No More Excuses for the Independent Commission
The core of the issue lies with the independent commission. While the Premier League itself is not directly responsible for the panel's pace, the league's integrity is collateral damage. The longer a judgement is delayed, the more questions will swirl around the eventual outcome, regardless of what it is.
A deliberation period exceeding twelve months naturally leads to doubts about the conclusiveness of any verdict. There is a growing sense that the Premier League must now exert pressure on the commission to bring this saga to a close. Allowing it to drift further into obscurity makes a mockery of the regulatory process.
What began as a serious examination of the competition's financial rules has morphed into an absurd waiting game. For the sake of the league's reputation and the sport's integrity, this farce must be ended with a definitive and transparent ruling.
