the football world is waiting.
115 charges. one independent panel. and potentially, hundreds of millions in compensation on the line.
liverpool, along with other premier league clubs, could be on the brink of a financial windfall if manchester city are found guilty in the long-standing financial fair play (ffp) case that has shadowed the etihad since february 2023.
with a verdict looming, speculation is intensifying — not only about possible punishments for city but also about how other clubs, including liverpool, might benefit.
the allegations are severe. manchester city stand accused of:
providing misleading financial information
failing to disclose accurate details about sponsorship revenues
not cooperating fully with investigations
the charges relate to a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018, during which city won multiple premier league titles and transformed themselves into a domestic powerhouse.
city, for their part, have consistently denied any wrongdoing and remain confident of clearing their name.
the case has been heard by an independent panel at the international dispute resolution centre, with proceedings wrapping up in late 2024. a final ruling is now pending, and its outcome could shake the foundations of english football’s financial regulations.
depending on the decision, potential punishments could include:
points deductions
transfer bans
or even expulsion from the premier league (though this remains unlikely)
but beyond sanctions, the more immediate concern — especially for clubs like liverpool — is compensation.
liverpool’s ownership group, fenway sports group (fsg), reportedly believes the club was significantly disadvantaged financially and competitively during the alleged period of rule breaches.
if city are found guilty, liverpool could make a legal claim to recoup lost revenue, prize money, and other competitive advantages — including missing out on titles or champions league qualification.
as football finance expert kieran maguire told tbr football:
“they [fsg] see themselves as one of the clubs who will have been significantly disadvantaged… if it’s going to cost liverpool £5m but they could potentially get much more if city are found guilty, it’s a short-term pain, long-term gain scenario.”
the recent case between everton and leeds united may offer a glimpse into what comes next.
after everton were docked points in a separate profit & sustainability rules (psr) case, they settled financially with leeds, who argued they missed out on vital revenue due to everton’s rule breaches.
this could lay the groundwork for similar legal action against manchester city — but only if they’re found guilty.
if the ruling goes against city, it could:
open the floodgates for multi-club lawsuits
result in tens or even hundreds of millions in payouts
lead to a new era of financial enforcement in english football
but if city are cleared, it could weaken confidence in the league’s governance systems and potentially discourage clubs from pursuing future claims.
either way, this is not just about manchester city — it’s about the credibility and transparency of the premier league in the modern football market.
for liverpool and clubs in similar positions, this is a high-stakes waiting game.
spending millions in legal fees could yield a major payday — if the verdict swings their way.
but in the unpredictable world of football finance, nothing is guaranteed.
and with city standing firm in their defence, the football world watches and waits.
whatever the outcome, sports market international will keep you updated with the most reliable coverage in the best sport blog space — because when money, trophies, and reputations are all on the line, you deserve the full picture.
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