Government make admission on Manchester City’s 115 Premier League charges
The Government have insisted that Manchester City’s Premier League charges were not discussed during a meeting with the Etihad club last spring, a report has revealed.
According to responses from freedom of information, sports minister Stuart Andrew had held talks in May 2023 with City Football Group’s general counsel Simon Cliff to discuss football governance reform.
It is now widely understood that such a meeting took place just three months after Manchester City were hit with charges covering 14 seasons amounting to what, if proven, many believe would be the biggest scandal in English football history.
Briefing the media at the time of the charges, Manchester City said that they were both “surprised” by the claims and charges issued, and that they are also supported by a “body of irrefutable evidence” which would ultimately clear their name.
Now, as per a report from The Telegraph’s Tom Morgan, the Government is ‘adamant’ that Manchester City’s charges issued by the Premier League one year ago were not discussed during a meeting between the club and sports minister Stuart Andrew in spring 2023.
After the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) refused to publish minutes of the meeting, The Telegraph quotes ‘sources close to talks’, who have now dismissed any suggestion the financial breach case had been discussed.
Furthermore, details of the Premier League case against Manchester City have been kept confidential from Government, having since been referred to an independent commission.
Speaking during a recent public event, Premier League CEO Richard Masters said of the situation surrounding Manchester City, “The volume and character of charges laid before Man City – which I obviously can’t talk about – are being heard in a completely different environment.
“There is a date set for that proceeding; I can’t tell you when that is but it is progressing.”
The feeling in some quarters is that an initial date has been provisionally pencilled in for the Autumn of 2024.
The latest information around Manchester City’s case involving the Premier League comes at a time when the club have also confirmed the exit of boardroom hierarchy Omar Berrada, who is becoming CEO at Manchester United.
Sources close to Manchester City have described the exit as “amicable”, while the club also believe such a move is a testament to their growth in the game and current status within Europe’s elite, proving just how far ahead they are of such competition.
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