Man City case: 29 clubs to seek compensation from Premier League? | OneFootball

The future of the Premier League could be shaken by an unprecedented wave of legal actions. According to an analysis by the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, there are 29 English clubs that could file compensation claims against Manchester City if the Citizens are found guilty of the 115 alleged financial rule violations charged by the Premier League.

Manchester City Case: 29 Clubs Ready to Seek Compensation from the Premier League?

It's not just about historical rivals like Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Everton, but also about relegated clubs or those currently far from the top league. Among the clubs that would be entitled to take action are: Hull City, Burnley, Wigan, Fulham, Swansea, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, and even Portsmouth, which was relegated in the 2009/10 season after a nine-point penalty.

In total, the affected seasons span from 2009/10 to 2017/18.

The Evidentiary Challenges

Proving the link between the alleged financial violations and the damages suffered by the clubs is not a straightforward path. The lawyers highlight two fundamental aspects:

Factual Causality: “If it weren't for City's violations, my club would have achieved a better standing.”

Legal Causality: the foreseeability of the damage for the parties involved.

Football, with its variables – injuries, tactical choices, refereeing errors – makes every case complex. However, statistical analyses, such as the correlation between wage bills and sports results, could strengthen the compensation claims.

The Strongest Cases: Manchester United and Liverpool

Some clubs would have a more robust evidentiary path. Manchester United, for example, finished second behind City in two seasons, including the dramatic 2011/12 season, lost only on goal difference. Liverpool, runners-up in 2013/14 just two points behind City, could argue that they were deprived of a real chance to win the title.

Economic Impacts and Sponsorships

The possible amount of compensation would depend on the reference period:

Before 2013/14: smaller amounts, calculated based on the television deals of the time (Sky Sports, Setanta/ESPN).

From 2013/14 onwards: much higher sums, in line with the revenue explosion thanks to the Sky-BT era.

An additional aspect concerns sponsorships. Lawyers point out that a competitive alteration could have reduced other clubs' ability to attract high-level commercial partners. The example of Liverpool is cited, which in 2012 signed a five-year contract with Adidas worth £60 million per season: a deal that, with more sporting success during the period in question, could have generated even higher figures.

A Potentially Disruptive Scenario

If Manchester City were found guilty, the Premier League would not only have to decide on possible sporting penalties but could also pave the way for billion-dollar lawsuits that would rewrite the economic balance of English football.

The case remains open and is set to mark a turning point not only in the governance of the league but also in the relationship between sports justice and competitive fairness.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.