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City's hearing begins TODAY as football's trial of century gets underway

  /  autty

The hearing into Manchester City's 115 charges of alleged financial misconduct will start today.

It is alleged that City breached financial rules between 2009 and 2018.

City, who strongly deny all charges, say that their case is supported by a 'comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence'.

The Premier League charged City with a failure to provide accurate financial information and a failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments.

The case, which is being held in a private location, has been dubbed the 'trial of the century'. It is anticipated that the hearing will last around 10 weeks and a verdict could be delivered in early 2025. City's defence team will be led by Lord Pannick KC.

Der Spiegel first published claims in November 2018 that City had breached FFP rules.

City were charged in 2023 following a four-year investigation.

Points deductions and fines are amongst the potential outcomes if City are found guilty, with relegation the sternest possible punishment.

35 of the charges that City face relate to their alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation into their conduct between December 2018 and February 2023.

Premier League charges include eight alleged rule breaches relating to 'full details of manager remuneration' from 2009-10 to 2012-13, when Roberto Mancini was at the helm.

Former City defender Aymeric Laporte revealed that players were told that they didn't have anything to worry about with regards to the trial.

Laporte told Mail Sport: 'When I was there and the news broke, the sporting director (Txiki Begiristain) and the CEO (Ferran Soriano) came and told all the players and staff that we can all be very calm because not one rule has been broken by Man City.

'They told us everything was fine so that's why we all think City will be fine. I don't think there will be any issues.

'Like Pep Guardiola always says, if something wrong has been done, they will have to pay for it.'

Following their takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City have won the Premier League eight times and have also won the Champions League as well as three FA Cups and six League Cups.