The prolonged handling of the 115 charges brought against Manchester City over alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules has been described as “damaging” to the competition’s reputation by La Liga president Javier Tebas.
The English champions were charged in February 2023 over alleged financial irregularities spanning several seasons. More than three years later, however, no final decision has been publicly announced.
A hearing into the charges which Manchester City strongly deny was conducted before an independent commission between September and December 2024. While a verdict had been widely anticipated in the first quarter of 2025, no official timeline has yet been confirmed.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, Tebas expressed concern about the lack of clarity surrounding the case. According to him, the delay has created uncertainty over how financial regulations are applied within one of the world’s most prominent football leagues.
“It’s not just the delay, it’s the general situation,” Tebas said. “When you have a great institution like the Premier League, and you establish rules for financial fair play, there must be legal certainty in the competition and among clubs.
“Supporters and stakeholders must believe the system is fair to everyone that it’s not arbitrary and that it is objective. Situations like this generate uncertainty, and that damages the institution’s image.”
Also addressing the matter at the same event, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters declined to comment on when a decision might be delivered.
“I simply can’t comment,” Masters stated. “Having spent three years not commenting, I’m not going to start now.
“Stepping aside from that specific case, any regulator would want its judicial system to be efficient and to operate swiftly. That’s about as far as I can go.”
The outcome of the case is expected to have significant implications for both Manchester City and the broader governance framework of the Premier League, as scrutiny over financial regulation in European football continues to intensify.
