Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness would be "surprised" if Manchester City learn their fate in an 115-charge FFP case before the end of 2024.
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Case is now being heardPlenty of punishment speculationSaga expect to run into 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images WHAT HAPPENED?
There could be as many as 130 Financial Fair Play charges hanging over the reigning champions of England. If they are found guilty of monetary mismanagement, then severe punishments may be handed out – with there plenty of gossip to be found regarding demotion from the Premier League, the EFL entirely, or points deductions and transfer embargoes.
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City’s case is finally being heard, but there has been no word on when a final ruling will be delivered. Reports have suggested that a conclusion could be reached before the current calendar year comes to a close, but that may be ambitious.
GettyWHAT FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE CEO SAID
Wyness – who spent five years working in the Premier League at Goodison Park and is a now a football consultant to elite clubs – has told of why the City saga may drag on for some time yet: "The theory is that a verdict will be due at the end of the year. As far as I know, they’re in the hearing every day – I don’t know if there have been breaks for certain witnesses. There’s a big veil of secrecy over the whole thing.
"Getting a verdict in 2024 is certainly the ambition but I still think this will drag on further. This is a big, big case with a lot of expert witnesses, testimony and documents to examine. I’ll be surprised if they can finish it this year. I’m expecting it to drag and drag and I think that will be one of City’s tactics – to keep pushing and delaying as far as they can."
WHAT NEXT?
Any appeals from City would prolong proceedings, taking the case into early 2025 and beyond, with there so much evidence and paperwork to trawl through. The Premier League title holders have maintained their innocence throughout, with no admissions of wrongdoing about to be made at the Etihad Stadium.
