After months of allegations and legal dismay, it looks like the fans with Manchester City tickets can breathe a sigh of relief. The official verdict is that City could be cleared of all the charges of financial fair play.
And the verdict is that they will soon see daylight over the rest.
City To Win Legal Battle
Manchester City is expected to be cleared of 115 alleged breaches of financial rules ahead of their hearing on Monday.
The Premier League brought 115 charges against City in February 2023. The club strenuously denies all the charges and claims it has ‘irrefutable evidence’ to prove its innocence.
It was announced on Thursday that the hearing would officially begin next week after Premier League chief Richard Masters said earlier this year that a date had been decided.
A verdict is expected to be officially announced at the end of this season, even though the hearing itself is anticipated to last two weeks.
According to the London Evening Standard, a heavy points deduction or fine is the most likely punishment the Premier League will hand out if City is found guilty of the more serious charges against them.
However, former City financial advisor Stefan Borson believes the club will be cleared of the charges against them.
Appearing on talkSPORT’s ‘White and Jordan’, Borson explained: “I think they’ll clear their name.
“I think a case of this nature has to have cogent proof, which seems impossible to present to an independent commission.
It seems highly unlikely that the alleged conduct took place over a 10-year period with the individuals and companies involved in the club.
Despite the discussions off the playing field, the demand for Manchester City tickets has remained strong. According to trusted ticket resellers like Seatsnet, the defending league champions are home to the top 3 most demanded destinations.
The Eithad experiences a very high influx of Manchester City tickets on match days when the top teams play, and reseller platforms try their best to fulfill all of the requests.
In fact, according to Seatsnet, the Arsenal vs. City game saw the most options sold for fans.
Haaland No Regrets in Throwing the ball
Erling Haaland has said he does not regret throwing the ball at Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães after Manchester City’s equalizer in their 2-2 draw last month.
Haaland avoided an FA charge after cameras showed him throwing the ball against the back of Gabriel’s head following John Stones’s late goal.
Haaland is stepping in as Norway’s captain for their clashes against Slovenia and Austria this week, with Martin Ødegaard still out with an ankle injury.
When asked if, as a captain, he would have condoned his behavior, Haaland told a news conference: “It was in the heat of the moment, and a lot of stuff happened in that game. Things that happen on the pitch stay there, and that’s how it is.”
He was then asked if he regretted throwing the ball.
“I don’t regret much in life,” Haaland added.
The striker had scored the first goal in that game and was later involved in a heated exchange with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and striker Gabriel Jesus after the final whistle.
While the fans with Manchester City tickets were quite elastic on the game, they knew their team was the second-best team on the day, and were very happy to take the 1 point.
City Appoint New Director of Football
Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of Hugo Viana as their new director of football.
Viana replaces Txiki Begiristain after it was announced the Spaniard would step down at the end of the 2024-25 season.
“Viana will begin his full-time role in the summer of 2025 but will collaborate with Txiki in the preceding months to ensure a smooth transition,” a City statement said.
“We look forward to paying tribute to Txiki’s outstanding contribution to Manchester City at the end of the season.”
Viana played for Sporting CP, Newcastle United, and Valencia and won 29 caps for Portugal between 2001 and 2012.
He was appointed Sporting’s director of football in 2018 and helped the club win the Portuguese title in 2021 and 2024 despite strong competition from Benfica and FC Porto.
He’s credited with bringing in Ruben Amorim as manager in 2020, who has also played a key role in returning Sporting to the top of Portuguese football.
Sources have told ESPN that City also considered Girona sporting director Quique Carcel before pursuing a deal for Viana.
Begiristain’s decision to leave the Etihad has further thrown Pep Guardiola’s future into doubt.
The pair have worked closely at City, and Guardiola will be out of contract at the end of the season.
The 53-year-old has dodged questions about whether he will sign another contract extension.
Sources have told ESPN that City wants Guardiola to stay and would like to indicate his plans for the future before the new year.
According to reports, Begiristain’s exit has been on the horizon for some time, particularly after City’s historic treble-winning 2022-23 season. However, the decision to part ways was finalized over the summer, giving City ample time to consider a replacement for the man who played a pivotal role in shaping their recruitment strategy.
City has already identified Begiristain’s successor, with Sporting CP director of football Hugo Viana emerging as the favorite.
The fans loyal to the club with Manchester City tickets have also campaigned for the Spaniard to stay. Several banners have been displayed at the Etihad, even requesting Guardiola to sign a fresh contract.
However, according to Fabrizio Romano, the departure of Begiristain – who is close with the manager – will not affect Guardiola’s future at the club as the board remains eager for the Spaniard to extend his tenure as head coach beyond 2025.
The Ticketing platform Seatsnet‘s social media handles have also focused on the Guardiola
