Aston Villa and other Premier League clubs await decisions on what will happen to Manchester City
Aston Villa and other Premier League clubs await decisions on what will happen to Manchester City.
Aston Villa will be watching intently after it was said that Manchester City and the Premier League have agreed a date for the club’s ‘trial’.
City have been charged with 115 breaches of financial regulations over a 10-year period between 2008 and 2018. Following a five-year investigation, it was confirmed that an independent commission would look at the case. City are not just alleged to have broken financial rules but also to not have acted ‘in utmost good faith’.
Now, it has been reported that a trial has been pencilled in for late autumn 2024. The date is said to have been agreed between club and competition, though both are remaining quiet over the situation. It is not expected that a decision will be made over the trial until after the 2024-25 season though, at which point Pep Guardiola’s current contract is due to end.
It comes after Everton were docked 10 points for breaking profit and sustainability rules over the three-year period to the end of the 2021-22 season. They are now firmly in the relegation zone.
City are due to face Villa at Villa Park next week (Wednesday, December 6) and a lot of media attention may be around potential punishments.
As for the potential punishment itself, it remains to be seen exactly what it could mean for Villa and their Premier League rivals, but it could have some interesting knock-on effects. It’s possible that major fines, points deductions, league expulsion or even relegations could be handed to City. Retrospective action could also be taken.
Villa finished 28 points below City in the Premier League last season. If a major points deduction were to be retrospectively applied, for example, it could see Villa given a top six finish.
This term, things are much more interesting. At the time of writing, after 13 Premier League match weeks, Villa are just one point below City in the table. The reigning champions are currently second with 29 points, while Villa are fourth with 28. Any points deductions applied to this season could go a long way to securing Villa a top-four finish – if they are able to maintain their current form.
