Man City 115 charges hearing 'held in secrecy' to leave Premier League rivals furious
Premier League clubs are furious over the secrecy surrounding Manchester City's trial into the alleged 115 charges the club faces.
City's trial started on Monday while a decision is not expected for several months and could be as late as next summer.
But the hearing is being held in private in front of a three-person panel, whose identities have not been confirmed with the league's rules swearing the whole case to secrecy.
Section W of the Premier League rule's state that City's case must be completely confidential.
Man City 115 charges are being heard currently
PA
The only public details available are the nature of City's charges and the seasons of each alleged breach.
Even the location of the hearing has not been disclosed, though photographs have since emerged of City's legal teams present at an arbitration centre in London.
But the fact that there has been little information released about City's case has left many other Premier League clubs frustrated, according to The Telegraph.
The lack of clarity has left some believing that true justice might not be dealt out without transparency.
"Justice does not just need to be done – it needs to be seen to be done,” said a lawyer representing one Premier League.
JUST IN: Rory McIlroy explains real reason for divorce U-turn with wife Erica Stoll
“There is no reason, in principle, why it is not being held in public.
"It would ensure it is covered accurately in the media and that the actual detail of any case – what exactly has been alleged and how it is being defended – is picked over and known to the fans.
"That in itself acts as a control over clubs and owners – who generally care very much about their image – to abide by the rules but is also a protection to help ensure a fair hearing.”
READ MORE: Inside Jude Bellingham's £5.5m mansion including spa, pool and home theatre
Pep Guardiola will not know the outcome of Man City's trial until next year
PA
While several Premier League clubs might be furious at the lack of clarity, a change to the rule is still unlikely.
It would require at least 14 clubs to vote for a change but, with several teams also facing investigations, or already have, getting the necessary majority might be difficult.
City were charged in February 2023 with multiple breaches of league rules including over sponsorship deals and payments to certain members of staff.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Man City could be relegated if found guilty, though this would be unlikely
PA
The Premier League champions deny all charges, which range from 2009 to 2023.
If City are found guilty, they could face relegation from the top tier - though this would be an extreme scenario.
The hearing is taking place in front of an independent commission while the case is expected to last 10 weeks.
However, an outcome could still last several months longer for a verdict to be reached - but it has been promised that it will be before the end of the season.