A verdict appears to be close in the seismic case between Manchester City and the Premier League.
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verdict → appear → City
City has been found guilty of nearly all of the more than 100 financial charges laid by the league, The Athletic and the BBC reported Friday, in a saga that dates back eight years.
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that → find → saga
The club has said the legal case is “ongoing.”
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case → say → ?
2018
November — German outlet Der Spiegel publishes internal emails from City which it claimed detailed schemes by the club to allegedly cover up true sources of income in a bid to comply with financial fair play regulations.
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it → publish → regulations
The information published by Der Spiegel was unearthed by the “Football Leaks” website, whose founder is Rui Pinto — a Portuguese computer hacker.
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founder → publish → website
City did not dispute the authenticity of any emails but said it would not be providing comment on “out-of-context materials purportedly hacked or stolen from City Football Group and Manchester City personnel and associated people.”
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it → dispute → Group
City said it is an “organized and clear” attempt to damage its reputation.
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it → say → reputation
UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, starts to conduct a review of the case, which also sparks a Premier League investigation.
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which → start → investigation
2019
March 7 — As Der Spiegel continues to publish internal City documents from “Football Leaks,” UEFA opens a formal investigation into whether the club violated financial rules.
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club → continue → rules
City says it welcomes the opening of the investigation, adding it is “an opportunity to bring to an end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out-of-context publication of City emails.”
May 14 — City says the club has provided “comprehensive proof” that it did not break financial regulations and that the accusations are “entirely false.”
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accusations → say → regulations
It came as reports say City has not been cooperating with investigators and is facing a one-season ban from the Champions League for violating financial monitoring rules.
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City → come → rules
2020
Feb. 14 — City is banned from the Champions League for two seasons by UEFA for “serious breaches” of spending rules and failing to cooperate with investigators.
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City → ban → investigators
City also is fined 30 million euros (then $33 million).
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City → fin → euros
City says UEFA’s investigation was “flawed” and announces plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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investigation → say → Sport
July 13 — City successfully overturns its ban from the Champions League after CAS upholds the club’s appeal, saying some UEFA allegations were not proven and others were “time-barred.”
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others → overturn → appeal
CAS imposes a 10 million euro ($11.3 million) fine on City for failing to cooperate with independent investigators.
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CAS → impose → investigators
— City is referred to an independent commission by the Premier League, which alleges more than 100 breaches of financial rules by the club.
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which → refer → club
City is accused of providing misleading information about its finances from 2009-18 and a subsequent failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation.
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City → accuse → investigation
City says it is “surprised” by the allegations and claims there is a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to counter the allegations.
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it → say → allegations
May 24 — City wins the Premier League for a fifth time in six seasons and manager Pep Guardiola says he wants the financial charges to be dealt with “as soon as possible.”
Sept. 11 — Rui Pinto is given a suspended prison sentence of four years after being convicted by a Lisbon court of nine crimes: five counts of unauthorized entry into computer systems, three counts of intercepting correspondence for accessing emails, and one count of attempted extortion.
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Pinto → win → extortion
During his trial, Pinto admitted to being behind the information published on the website that was set up in 2015 but argued he is a whistleblower, not a criminal.
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he → admit → 2015
An independent commission, comprising three judges, begins the hearing into the Premier League charges against City at a secret location in London.
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commission → comprise → London
Dec. 6 — The hearing ends after 12 weeks, with no announcement over the expected date for the verdict.
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hearing → end → verdict
2026
Sept. 25 - The Athletic reports that City has been found guilty of all but one of the charges laid by the Premier League.
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City → report → League
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