Liverpool are among the clubs with an eye on a compensation payday if Manchester City are found guilty of the 115 charges levelled at them by the Premier League.
In reality, it is 115 charges. The Premier League seemingly miscounted in their initial press release back in February 2023, and 115 stuck. Even internally, Liverpool and their peers refer to it as 115.
The case was heard at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, with the independent panel having now retired to consider their verdict.
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Once a verdict materialises, both Man City and the Premier League have the right to appeal.
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Liverpool owners FSG as well as their opposite numbers at Man United, Arsenal and a handful of others – a cohort that City see as the old-money clubs – have been City’s biggest rivals in the 115 charges politics.
In their challenge to the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) Rules, Liverpool gave evidence against City. And while that was a separate case, it was rooted in the same resentments.
The lawfare is not slowing down. If anything, it’s ramping up – as the latest report illustrates.
Legal costs reach £100m since Man City charged by Premier League
Per The Telegraph, legal bills incurred by Premier League clubs since the start of 2022-23, the season when City were charged, have now reached over £100m.
Not all of that is directly attributable to the City case itself. Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) rows have been big drivers too, as has the APT case.
But the 115 charges have swallowed up by far the biggest chunk of costs. And those expenses are borne equally by all 20 top-flight clubs.
Infographic detailing the 115 charges levelled at the Manchester City by the Premier League
CREDIT: Adam Williams / GRV Media
For Liverpool, whose owners favour a self-sufficient business model, that is ostensibly not ideal.
However, speaking exclusively to TBR Football, Liverpool University football finance lecturer Kieran Maguire argues that FSG will accept the financial burden if there is a chance it leads to compensation.
Kieran Maguire: Liverpool will accept legal bills in hope of compensation from Man City
Significantly, Maguire says Everton’s recent settlement with Leeds United relating to lost revenue from their finishing higher in the league in 2021-22, when the Toffees breached PSR, could set a precedent.
“As far as Liverpool are concerned, the legal bill is the cost of doing business,” the Price of Football podcast host explained.
“They see themselves as one of the clubs who will have been significantly disadvantaged should Man City be found guilty.
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“If we take into account the settlement between Everton and Leeds United, that could be significant precedent. But that is if City are found guilty – and that is a big if.
“And although you wouldn’t expect them to say any different, all the noises I am getting from Manchester are very confident.
“If it’s going to cost Liverpool £5m but they could potentially get much more if City are found guilty… They will have effectively worked it out on an insurance basis.
“It might be a short-term pain, long-term gain scenario. But the costs have certainly got out of control. Other costs have gone through the roof too, such as utilities and administration at club level.”