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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Simon Mullock & Mark Jones

Premier League forced to correct multiple errors in financial charges against Man City

The Premier League quietly changed six of the financial charges aimed at Manchester City after they were included in their initial statement by error.

More than 100 charges were levelled against the reigning champions in an explosive statement on Monday, with the club accused of breaching the league's financial rules from the 2009-10 season.

But some of the rules listed were inconsequential and did not relate to financial issues, something which the club noted at the time.

As reported by Mirror Sport on Monday, City's legal team "noticed that a significant number of the charges and the regulations they breached were incorrectly notified on the original announcement and were later altered by the Premier League."

These included rules E.3, E.4, E.11 and E.12, but they relate to irrelevant issues such as non-televised matches being played on a Saturday at 3pm, matches that take place on New Year's Day and clubs entering the FA Cup.

The Premier League changed guidelines around these rules in following seasons, moving them into different sections of their law book, but they failed to show this on their statement charging City.

The same error then occurred later in the statement when referring to the 2021-22 season and breaches of rules W.15 and W.16, which were swiftly corrected to W.12 and W.13.

Guardiola was quick to hit out at the charges (Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

City are set to mount a swift defence against the allegations, and insist that the club has done nothing wrong.

The issued a statement on Monday declaring: "Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

"The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

"As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."

City boss Pep Guardiola has also gone on the offensive since the charges.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, he said: “My first thought is that we have already been condemned.

“So, what’s happened since Monday happened before with UEFA – we were condemned, we already have the accusation, now we have charges.

“You have to understand that 19 teams in the Premier League are accusing us without letting us [have the] opportunity to defend in the words of my club, my owner, my chairman, my people. They explain everything during these three or four years. You know exactly on what side I am.”

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