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Manchester City launch legal fight against Premier League’s 115 charges for rule breaches

Manchester City have reportedly lodged legal challenges against the Premier League over the 115 charges of alleged rule breaches.

The reigning Premier League champions are believed to be disputing both the legality of the charges brought against them and the barrister in charge of the process.

According to The Times, the dispute has arisen in relation to changes in the English top-flight’s rules, with the six-time champions of the belief that they should not apply to investigations into alleged rule breaches before their introduction.

In addition to that, the club are believed to have challenged the involvement of Murray Rosen KC, a self-proclaimed supporter of City’s direct title challengers Arsenal.

Rosen is the barrister at the head of the Premier League’s independent judicial panel – the person in charge of appointing a chair for the disciplinary commission with rules allowing him to appoint himself.

Arsenal will have no direct involvement in the commission which will decide City’s fate.

The Premier League’s statement said ‘commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs.

It is not anticipated that the case brought against Man City will produce a result for at least two to four years, with this most recent development set to delay proceedings even further.

City received legal papers from the Premier League in February initially announcing the charges over alleged financial rule breaches.

The club, however, made it abundantly clear that they would take all available steps to defend themselves from the charges, and claimed to have ‘irrefutable evidence’ to dispute the alleged breaches over the last 14 seasons.

There have been a number of changes to the top-flight’s rules over the past few campaigns, and it is as yet unclear which of the rule changes the challenge is directed at.

A change in the rules in February 2022 dictated that individuals must offer up information or documentation on request, as well as answer questions ‘comprehensively’ and on a ‘co-operative and open basis’.

The 2016-17 season saw a further change to guidelines, stating that all clubs must comply ‘in full’ with Premier League investigations and supply information requested by the competition.

However, should the charges of alleged breaches are proven, then there could be a raft of potential consequences for the club.

These could range from a points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League altogether.

The charges against the reigning champions relate to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, UEFA regulations, profitability and sustainability, and co-operation with Premier League investigations.

Bruno Fernandes’ penalty after 101 seconds is the earliest goal Man City have conceded in a league match at Etihad Stadium

Manchester United brought Manchester City’s sequence of 21 successive victories in all competitions to a crashing halt with an impressive derby victory at Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side still have what looks to be an unassailable 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League, but the manner in which United subdued a previously unstoppable City and enhanced their own top-four chances will be a huge confidence boost to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his players.

United, who have now gone 22 league away games unbeaten – including 14 wins – stunned City with a fast start and were ahead after a penalty was awarded inside the first 30 seconds when Gabriel Jesus fouled the impressive Antony Martial.

Bruno Fernandes scored from the spot despite City keeper Ederson getting a strong hand on the ball, then United fashioned the win with a mixture of solid defence and constant menace on the break.

Rodri almost equalised just after the break when his shot glanced off the angle of post and bar, but United effectively sealed the win – condemning City to their first loss since a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on 21 November – when the outstanding Shaw, who had earlier missed a chance to double United’s lead, led a counter-attack, exchanging passes with Marcus Rashford before beating Ederson with a low shot.

Solskjaer’s team, who had not scored in their previous three games, moved back into second place, a point ahead of Leicester City in the increasing tight fight for a place in the top four.

Man Utd show their best side

United’s recent performances were greeted with frustration, particularly after they played out unambitious, goalless stalemates at Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

It cemented the impression that this was a very talented side that had arguably under-achieved this season.

This was the other face of United, the one they need to show more often if they are to find the sort of consistency that leads to serious title challenges.

They struck early to grab the initiative, then retained impressive composure and control even as City, inevitably, threatened to work their way back into contention.

And the symbol of what United could be perhaps came in the shape of Anthony Martial, so often inconsistent but outstanding here as they looked a constant threat on the break.

Martial missed a couple of second-half opportunities but fully deserved the applause he received from the United bench when he was replaced by Nemanja Matic late on.

Martial was not the only significant contributor. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson looked secure and confident as he kept another clean sheet, pressing his claims to be United’s number one with David de Gea away in Spain after the birth of his daughter.

Shaw will have impressed watching England manager Gareth Southgate, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka won his personal battle with Raheem Sterling.

This, above all, was a tight-knit team effort from United and great credit must go to manager Solskjaer for another impressive game plan and victory at City.

United did the double over City last season and Solskjaer is the first manager at the club to win three successive away games against their arch-rivals since a run of four between November 1993 and November 2000.

He is also the first manager in United’s history to win each of his first three away meetings against City in all competitions.

All in all, a good day’s work for United and their manager.