Thread by @SwedishRumble

💣🚨(1/15) The Premier League has issued a statement that it has referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Pep Guardiola’s #MCFC to a Commission. In this 🧵, we cover what this means and what the implications could be. premierleague.com/news/3045970

(2/15) #MCFC is alleged to have breached the PL Rulebook in no less than – five – ways. These allegations require a thorough analysis, but this is Twitter, lets try the super-fast version of it.

(3/15) What rule has #MCFC allegedly broken? The PL rulebook includes a provision stating that clubs cannot make false statements to UEFA when reviewed in light of FFP rules. Currently, its in J.7, previously it was J.8, unless I am mistaken.

(4/15) In addition, the PL rulebook set out that a club must comply with the below requirement:

(5/15) What are the five allegations? (1) From 2009-2018 #MCFC is alleged to not have provided complete financial information, in general. (2) In 2009-2016, it appears the PL have found evidence of sort of ‘under the table’ payments.

(6/15) (3) Should be a slam dunk breach, since it refers to the breaches City already has been fined for by CAS. (4) from 2016 to 2018, to have breached the PL’s Profitability and Sustainability rules.

(7/15) And (5) to during the period between 2018 and 2023 fail to enable the Premier League’s investigation of #MCFC.

(8/15) Some initial and preliminary comments on the allegations. To me, (a) (2) is the most serious breach and also the oldest. i.e. the alleged failure to “include full details of player remuneration”. Why? Normally, this is done by payments by 3rd parties to a player.

(9/15) When those are made, it almost per automatic results in breaches of tax provisions, and serious crimes. Given the age of these breaches (the most recent is 7 years), those crimes would probably be statue barred.

(10/15) (b) The PL is throwing the book after #MCFC trying to bring everything they got. The allegation that #MCFC has not provided full information and not cooperated with the investigation up to 2023 must be fairly picky.

(11/15) So what kind of sanctions could #MCFC face if these allegations are substantiated? The below sanctions would be at the disposal of the Commission.

(12/15) So what sanction will get #MCFC get? It all depends on if the allegations can be substantiated. From some perspectives, it seems like the PL is digging deep to show that it monitor its clubs. But at the same time…

(13/15)…there are obviously underlying breaches that could be exposed. Some of the breaches are slam dunks, and I also bet the accusation of the 7-9 year old, what I label “under the table payments” (2), should be substantiated.

(14/15) You don’t bring up that old stuff, if you don’t have proof of it. If I was a betting man – I would bet on points deductions. But it is important to point out that we do not have access to the actual details of the allegations and the proof of them.

(15/15) So any speculation on the potential outcome is “wild”. Lastly, how long will it take to settle this case? I cannot imagine it can be done much faster than 6 months. There is no guarantee that it will be settled before next season starts.

BTW, I don't have the biggest twitter following, if you like this thread, please smash a like and retweet! 😀

BTW 2, see below a follow-up thread, with details/speculation on the merits of the accusations:

https://twitter.com/SwedishRumble/status/1622612499248848902?s=20&t=ycpXI_S6OAqwJU9U1urIKA