Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is
"happy" that a hearing into the 115 charges facing the club will
begin soon.
An independent disciplinary commission is set to hear the
case against City over alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, some
of which date back to 2009.
OceanNewsUK understands the hearing is set to start in
September with the result possibly known early next year, as first reported
by the Times, external.
City have denied all charges and say they are supported
by a "body of irrefutable evidence".
"I am happy it starts soon and hopefully it finishes
soon for the benefit of all of us," Guardiola said.
"Especially for the club but for all the other
Premier League clubs, like for all the people that don't wait for the sentence.
"I wish from deep in my heart to go to the trial,
the independent panel - and I say it again, independent panel - and as soon as
possible release what happened, and we will accept like always we have
done."
Guardiola dismissed the idea that the situation around
the hearing could affect City's performances on the pitch.
"No, we have been three or four years talking about
that," he added.
It is now 18 months since City were charged, following a
four-year investigation, and Premier League chief executive Richard Masters
recently told OceanNewsUK "it is time now for the case to resolve
itself".
In a separate legal case, City are also taking
action against the Premier League over the organization’s tightened rules
on 'fair' sponsorship deals, with an outcome expected in the next few weeks.
Man City charges timeline
November
2018: Football Leaks allegations emerge, with Der Spiegel
publishing claims Manchester City breached FFP rules
March
2019: Uefa launches a formal investigation off the back of Der
Spiegel's findings
May
2019: City criticise the investigation and launch appeal process
November
2019: Cas deems City's appeal inadmissible
February
2020: Uefa announces a two-year ban from European competitions
and a 30m euros fine for the club
July
2020: City's European ban overturned after Cas appeal
July
2021: City lose a jurisdiction ruling which allows the media to
report the Premier League is continuing to investigate the champions for
alleged financial breaches
April
2022: German newspaper Der Spiegel publishes a fresh report
claiming the Premier League has been investigating the club for three
years, providing detailed claims
Feb
2023: Premier League charges City with 115 financial breaches
Autumn
2024: Reported date of a potential PSR legal trial between the
Premier League and City
Summer
2025: Reported date of a verdict on the trial related to 115
charges
