Man City found guilty on all charges; rivals want swift punishment — SkimNews
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- Manchester City was found guilty on all charges of breaching Premier League financial regulations between 2009-10 and 2017-18, including artificially inflating revenue by more than £900m through "sham" sponsorship deals.
- Senior figures from other clubs want City's punishment handed down before the end of this season, with one anonymous official telling BBC Sport: "it benefits everyone for this to be resolved as quickly as possible."
- Premier League rules state an appeal should conclude no more than 12 weeks after filing, with a decision within 30 days of that — though it remains unclear whether that timeline applies in City's case.
- City have signalled intent to lodge an appeal by the end of this week and have repeatedly denied guilt; the club cannot appeal further to CAS but could claim the process was not impartial at the High Court.
- City CEO Ferran Soriano has suggested the case will run for a long time — three years have already passed since the charges were filed — directly conflicting with rivals' push for a swift resolution.
- Etihad Airways, City's main sponsor since 2009 and owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund L'Imad, is considering legal action against the Premier League, "categorically rejecting" any finding of involvement in improper commercial arrangements.
Why it matters: With City leading the Premier League and the appeals process subject to a 12-week window under league rules, rival clubs fear an unresolved case stretching into next season could let City lift the title while sanctions remain theoretical — the timeline fight is now as consequential as the punishment itself.
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