No excuses for Man City charges verdict delay – the process is becoming a farce

It is now well over a year since the hearing into the Premier League’s 115 charges against the Etihad club concluded but there is no sign of any decisions from the independent commission

As they absolutely must do, Manchester City are carrying on regardless. Challenging for yet another Premier League title, sizing up possible signings in the mid-season transfer window. The club’s board might even be preparing for Pep Guardiola’s departure, whenever that is.

Some players will be thinking about new contracts, some players will be thinking about whether or not it is best to look for other options. The resumption of a Champions League campaign beckons. All normal stuff.

Yet the most successful club of the modern Premier League era is a club that remains charged with well over a hundred breaches of the competition’s regulations. Seriously, we know it is a relatively complex legal case, but surely it cannot be THAT complex?

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At the beginning of a new year, it has become an official farce. There can be no more excuses. What on earth is the independent commission that completed its hearing over a YEAR ago doing? The entire credibility of the Premier League is being undermined.

When asked about the charges the other day, Pep Guardiola could only raise a sarcastic chuckle. “They must be busy,” he said.

And on he moved to previewing matches and dead-batting transfer questions. Since the charges were announced, City won the Treble and became the first club to win four consecutive top-flight titles.

They have bought and sold many footballers and have tied Erling Haaland down to a contract that expires in the year dot. It is coming up to THREE YEARS since the charges were laid.

Guardiola has signed a new deal during that time. The Etihad Stadium is being expanded. The date of the first charge of financial irregularity is coming up to SEVENTEEN YEARS ago.

It is genuinely absurd. City made reference to the ongoing process when they published their latest accounts.

It read: “In response to the charges, the Club issued a public statement that it welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As at the date of publishing these statements, the independent commission is still in the process of reviewing the matter.”

Of course, that has been City’s position from day one. The club says that it has done absolutely nothing wrong. Presumably, the Premier League must have been equally convinced that City have done something wrong.

But the longer it takes to reach a judgement, the more questions will be raised about the eventual verdict – whatever that is. It really is getting to that stage.

If it takes over a year to come to any sort of conclusion, then it is only natural to wonder how convincing that conclusion can be. Yes, it is an independent commission, meaning the ridiculous delay is not the Premier League’s fault.

But surely there must come a time when the Premier League can say to the independent commission … look, this is silly, either come up with a decision or forget it. And if it goes on much longer, we will have forgotten it anyway. It has become a farce that needs to be ended.

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