Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick says the Premier League and its clubs need a clear and rapid conclusion to the long-running financial case involving Manchester City.
City are facing more than 100 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, but an independent commission has yet to publish its ruling more than three years after the charges were first brought. Manchester City have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking before the start of the new Premier League season, Garlick acknowledged the frustration caused by the delay and said clubs across the division wanted to understand how and when the case would be resolved.
His comments followed an admission from Premier League chief executive Richard Masters that the process was taking longer than anticipated. Masters described the case as “hugely complex”, while insisting the league had to allow the independent process to run its course.
The commission’s timetable must be respected, Masters said, rather than being influenced by the Premier League.
The charges against Manchester City were announced in February 2023 and relate to alleged financial breaches over several seasons.
Among the accusations are claims that City failed to provide accurate financial information about payments made to players and managers between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The club are also alleged to have breached UEFA financial fair play rules from 2013-14 to 2017-18. Further accusations relate to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations between 2015-16 and 2017-18.
Manchester City face additional allegations that they failed to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation between 2018 and 2023.
City have denied all wrongdoing in relation to the charges.
The length of the process has caused concern among other Premier League clubs. Some officials have privately called for changes to the system so that financial cases can be dealt with more quickly.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly served legal notices on Manchester City in 2024. The notices reserved the clubs’ right to seek compensation if City are eventually found guilty.
The unresolved case is especially important to Arsenal because they finished as Premier League runners-up to Manchester City in both 2023 and 2024.
Garlick’s intervention comes with the new season approaching and has renewed attention on a case that remains unresolved more than three years after the charges were announced. His comments reflect wider calls within the Premier League for greater certainty and a final decision.
The independent commission is responsible for determining the outcome, while the Premier League has said it cannot interfere with that process. Until a ruling is published, the allegations against Manchester City remain unproven.
