Manchester City are still facing 115 charges but could still win another Premier League title while waiting for a final legal decision that may arrive soon after they lift the trophy.
Pep Guardiola’s team have been under investigation for over a year while legal proceedings continue. They are again competing for the league title and could win a fifth title in six years if they finish ahead of Arsenal.
The club has always denied any wrongdoing and insists on its innocence, but there is still a possibility of a guilty verdict. That would create a difficult situation for the Premier League if a decision comes at the same time City are celebrating a title win.
A report from The Lawyer describes the situation as awkward for the league, noting the unusual timing risks if a verdict lands during celebrations.
The report explains that English football could face the possibility of City being crowned champions at the same time as a tribunal finds them guilty of serious rule breaches covering many years. It also mentions a less likely scenario where City could win the league but later receive a points deduction that would hand the title to Arsenal.
It adds that City competing for the title while the case is unresolved has become a major problem for the Premier League, with confidentiality around the case and a long delay leading to speculation about what is happening behind the scenes.
Guardiola has defended the club publicly, even though the charges relate to the period from 2009 to 2018, before much of his time as manager. He has previously said he would leave the club if they were proven to have lied about their innocence.
The article also notes that delays may be due to the complexity of the case, other court commitments, or disagreements among the judges involved. In some cases, judges may take longer to reach a unanimous decision.
There is also a small possibility of settlement talks, but that would likely require City to accept some level of wrongdoing, which would represent a major shift in their position.
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