Manchester United and Liverpool among clubs seeking compensation from Manchester City if found guilty of alleged FFP breaches - Reports

Four Premier League clubs have reportedly lodged legal notices reserving the right to seek compensation if Manchester City are found guilty over their 115 charges. Manchester City have been a major talking point in the football world ever since the hearing was announced, with rumors circulating that they would be axed from the Premier League or face a heavy points deduction.

The trial began on September 16 and is gradually coming to a conclusion, with a final verdict expected in early 2025. Manchester City were first charged by the Premier League in February 2023 for over 100 breaches of its final rules following a four-year investigation. They were later referred to an independent commission over alleged rule breaches from 2018–2019, which the Premier League Champions have strongly denied.

Some of the accusations include failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to comply with UEFA regulations, including financial fair play (FFP), failure to comply with Premier League investigations, and breaching profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

While Manchester City aren’t restricted from on-field activities, the hearing into their 115 charges is ongoing at the International Dispute Centre in London. While the proceedings are going on, some Premier League clubs anticipate eligibility for compensation should the independent commission oversee the hearing rules against City.

According to The Times, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur have taken the step of formally registering possible compensation claims via arbitration before a potential statute of limitations declined last week.

The reports, however, claimed that all the clubs involved in taking the legal steps declined to comment when they were approached. It further explains that if Manchester City are proven guilty, clubs could claim loss of income for missing out on the league title and qualification for European competitions over several seasons.

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What Pep Guardiola said about Manchester City’s 115 charges

A few days before the hearing into Manchester City’s 115 charges commenced, Pep Guardiola expressed his excitement to see the day approaching but claimed that all Premier League clubs are eager to see his side sanctioned.

La Liga president Javier Tebas claimed that he spoke with several Premier League clubs and most of them believed Machester City should be sanctioned. He said as quoted by Mundo Deportivo:

"I have spoken with many Premier League clubs, and most of them understand that City should be sanctioned."

In response to Tebas' remarks, Guardiola said (via BBC):

"For the first time I agree with Tebas. All the Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned, that is for sure. But that's why I say to Mr Tebas and the Premier League teams, wait for the independent panel."

"Justice is there in a modern democracy. It's not more complicated than that. I don't know if he is a lawyer or the rest of the Premier League teams are lawyers, so I ask for that. It happened with Uefa. We believe we have not done anything wrong.”