Once again, a holiday has come and gone without my emergency laptop ever leaving its bag. Will I face the same situation on the next trip?
After three sunny getaways and several weekend excursions, I find myself still waiting for Manchester City to discover the outcome of their highly publicized battle to clear their name amidst 115 Premier League charges related to violating financial regulations. The question of “Why did you bring your laptop on holiday?” continues to be answered in the same way.
“I half-expect the 115 charges panel to announce a verdict as I lounge on the beach one of these days.”
It’s been almost 21 months since a three-member commission held a hearing regarding the charges against City, which took place from September 16 to December 6, 2024. These charges include failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information, violations of the league’s profit and sustainability rules, and a lack of cooperation with league investigations. We are still left in the dark about when the club, the Premier League, and the public will learn the outcome of this landmark disciplinary case in Premier League history.
The lengthy process has stretched so long that we are now measuring it against life events.
The trivial concern of my holidays being overshadowed by this waiting game encapsulates the absurd state of the English football landscape. More importantly, three full Premier League seasons have passed since the charges against City were first revealed in February 2023, and we are on the brink of a fourth season, with justice—whether for City or the Premier League—continuing to face delays.
Since the charges were filed 3.5 years ago, City has invested £690 million in new players and secured six major trophies, including two domestic titles and the Champions League. While City (who strongly deny all allegations) have been busy strengthening their squad, Newcastle United has been compelled to sell some of their top talents to align with Premier League regulations.
Notable players like Bruno Guimarães, Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Elliot Anderson—all star talents—have left Newcastle, with Anderson making a move to City after a cut-price transfer to Nottingham Forest for £35 million in July 2024, as the club adheres to the rules that City stands accused of violating over a nine-year period (2009-18).
Those affiliated with City might reasonably argue that they should have the right to recruit freely while awaiting a verdict, as they are innocent until proven guilty. However, sources from various clubs have expressed their frustration—with the waiting game feeling increasingly untenable—as they look to the independent commission for a decision after such an extensive process.
Yet, the situation is more complex than it may seem. While a verdict could be delivered at any moment, it’s also possible that this could stretch on indefinitely, and no one at the Premier League or City can predict when it will conclude.
In March 2025, it was reported that some senior City staff were cautioned about possibly having to cancel holidays due to the expectation of a verdict. Seventeen months later, and the waiting continues.
This matter has transcended mere Premier League concerns; it now lies in the hands of a panel and legal experts, presenting a complex case. Since the commission convened in September 2024, neither City nor the Premier League has had any control over the timeline.
Reports indicate that over half a million pieces of documentary evidence, including emails, financial documents, and statements, must be reviewed by each panel member before they can reach a verdict. Additionally, the panel members have other commitments, meaning this critical case is just one of many legal matters they are tasked with addressing. They are certainly not isolated in a room until they come to a decision.
When, or if, a verdict is reached, the report must be vetted by the legal teams of both the Premier League and City before it can be made public, including a necessary redaction process.
None of these elements can be expedited. In fact, cases of this nature often take years to resolve due to the meticulous accountancy involved.
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City faces a total of 54 charges for providing inaccurate and outdated financial information between 2009-18, including 14 charges for not accurately reporting player and manager compensation during that time, five charges concerning breaches of UEFA’s financial regulations, seven charges related to infringing Premier League PSR rules (2015-18), and 35 charges for failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations (2018-23). The extensive list of charges underscores why clubs like Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea—who faced fewer allegations—have been adjudicated, found guilty, and penalized during the duration of City’s wait for justice.
The City case represents a monumental investigation, which ignited from the release of alleged leaked emails by convicted hacker Rui Pinto, brought to light by Der Spiegel in 2018. The hearing served as the conclusion of the initial phase rather than the ultimate resolution. Even when a conclusion is reached, both City and the Premier League retain the right to appeal the judgment within 14 days, necessitating the involvement of a new three-member commission.
What does all this imply? Essentially, prepare for additional seasons to unfold, for players to come and go, and for more holidays with my emergency laptop in tow, until the Premier League, Manchester City, and the broader sporting world can look back on these 115 charges and confront the consequences of what will undoubtedly become one of the most significant verdicts in the history of English football.