Premier League clubs pursue compensation over potential Manchester City rule breaches
Manchester City has been dominant in English football in recent years, capturing six of the last seven Premier League titles.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham have reportedly filed legal notices to reserve their right to claim compensation if Manchester City is found guilty of violating Premier League financial regulations.
According to The Times, these notices were submitted now due to concerns that the clubs could miss the opportunity under the statute of limitations if they waited for the case's outcome. City was charged in February last year with 115 breaches of top-flight rules, accusations that the club has consistently denied.
The case is currently being examined by an independent commission, which began its hearing on 16 September at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London. The proceedings, originally anticipated to last 10 weeks, are not expected to yield a verdict until early next year.
The clubs were reportedly advised that the six-year statute of limitations could be backdated to November 2018. This was when the German magazine Der Spiegel first raised allegations against City, which subsequently led to the Premier League's investigation.
If City is found guilty on some of the more serious charges, the clubs may seek damages under the Premier League's arbitration rules. City, however, maintains its innocence, asserting that it has a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" to back its position.