Man City Punishment Timeline: How Long Will Appeal Take, When Will This End?

Manchester City are in a limbo period. | Visionhaus/Getty ImagesManchester City’s confidence is infectious. The underfire club reacted to the guilty verdict delivered by an independent panel by defiantly declaring their innocence and stressing: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.”

Manchester City’s confidence is infectious. The underfire club reacted to the guilty verdict delivered by an independent panel by defiantly declaring their innocence and stressing: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.”

The rhetoric was so convincing even a spokesperson for the U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham considered the matter to be far from closed. “If wrongdoing is established…” a statement read. It had to be subsequently altered to, “Wherever wrongdoing is established…”

The rhetoric was so convincing even a spokesperson for the U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham considered the matter to be far from closed. “If wrongdoing is established…” a statement read. It had to be subsequently altered to, “Wherever wrongdoing is established…”

Wrongdoing has been established after a thorough investigation of more than two years, however the idea that this is far from over is also correct. City have appealed and warned that no stone will be left unturned in their fight against this “Premier League conspiracy theory.”

Wrongdoing has been established after a thorough investigation of more than two years, however the idea that this is far from over is also correct. City have appealed and warned that no stone will be left unturned in their fight against this “Premier League conspiracy theory.”

Untangling all those webs will still take some time.

Untangling all those webs will still take some time.

The appeal process could get Enzo Maresca’s thumbs up. | Peter Byrne/PA Images/Getty ImagesThanks to new regulations brought in by the Premier League, there is a clear timeline which the appeal process has to follow. A new three-person panel will have to conduct a five-day hearing within 12 weeks of the appeal being lodged.

Thanks to new regulations brought in by the Premier League, there is a clear timeline which the appeal process has to follow. A new three-person panel will have to conduct a five-day hearing within 12 weeks of the appeal being lodged.

From that point—which just so happens to fall on Christmas Eve—the independent body has 30 days to deliver their verdict. At the latest, we will have an answer before the end of January.

From that point—which just so happens to fall on Christmas Eve—the independent body has 30 days to deliver their verdict. At the latest, we will have an answer before the end of January.

Manchester City are preparing a new legal case. | Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesThis is not a retrial. Manchester City can only appeal on the basis of any procedural errors or material errors of law. The club hinted at what this may be in a spiky response to the official verdict:

This is not a retrial. Manchester City can only appeal on the basis of any procedural errors or material errors of law. The club hinted at what this may be in a spiky response to the official verdict:

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.” The implication being that independence, impartiality, fair-mindedness or non-partisan influence was not adhered to.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.” The implication being that independence, impartiality, fair-mindedness or non-partisan influence was not adhered to.

Historic cases offer an example of what City could be looking for. The Chinese three-time Olympic gold medallist Sun Yang had an eight-year doping ban briefly overturned by Switzerland’s highest court after successfully arguing that one of the arbitrators on the panel was not impartial. After combing through thousands of old social media posts, Sun’s lawyers found that the arbitrator “castigates a Chinese practice of dog slaughter and denounces the consumption of this meat at a local festival in China.”

Historic cases offer an example of what City could be looking for. The Chinese three-time Olympic gold medallist Sun Yang had an eight-year doping ban briefly overturned by Switzerland’s highest court after successfully arguing that one of the arbitrators on the panel was not impartial. After combing through thousands of old social media posts, Sun’s lawyers found that the arbitrator “castigates a Chinese practice of dog slaughter and denounces the consumption of this meat at a local festival in China.”

It remains to be seen what City’s legal team can dig up about the independent commission’s panel. The appeal board have almost every available power at its disposal, including:

It remains to be seen what City’s legal team can dig up about the independent commission’s panel. The appeal board have almost every available power at its disposal, including:

Lord Pannick KC’s work isn’t over. | Lucy North/PA Images/Getty ImagesShould City fail with their appeal, they can still take the case to an independent arbitrator. However, this can only happen if a verdict has been:

Should City fail with their appeal, they can still take the case to an independent arbitrator. However, this can only happen if a verdict has been:

After that, there is the break-glass emergency option of taking the case to the High Court where City could question if the Premier League’s rules adhere to U.K. competition law.

After that, there is the break-glass emergency option of taking the case to the High Court where City could question if the Premier League’s rules adhere to U.K. competition law.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak (left) and Ferran Soriano will not let this lie. | Matt McNulty/Getty ImagesThis affair doesn’t look like being wrapped up any time soon. The sports law specialist, Paul Gilroy KC, appeared on a recent recording of Stick to Football. “I heard Jill [Scott] saying this morning, ‘It’d be great to have this finished by the end of the season.’ Good luck with that one,” he scoffed.

This affair doesn’t look like being wrapped up any time soon. The sports law specialist, Paul Gilroy KC, appeared on a recent recording of Stick to Football. “I heard Jill [Scott] saying this morning, ‘It’d be great to have this finished by the end of the season.’ Good luck with that one,” he scoffed.

“Never mind this season or the next or maybe the next five seasons.”

“Never mind this season or the next or maybe the next five seasons.”

In the unblinking address to camera Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano delivered to club staff in the wake of the verdict, he warned: “We will now be relentless in our work. We will focus on the independent appeal process and also all other legal avenues available to us in order to win the case, and we will take all necessary action to protect the club and seek compensation from any party that tries to damage it now, and in the future.”

In the unblinking address to camera Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano delivered to club staff in the wake of the verdict, he warned: “We will now be relentless in our work. We will focus on the independent appeal process and also all other legal avenues available to us in order to win the case, and we will take all necessary action to protect the club and seek compensation from any party that tries to damage it now, and in the future.”

It took almost eight years from the start of the Premier League investigation to reach a first guilty verdict. Yet, as City have been keen to tell anyone who will listen, the process is still ongoing.

It took almost eight years from the start of the Premier League investigation to reach a first guilty verdict. Yet, as City have been keen to tell anyone who will listen, the process is still ongoing.

Published 8 hours ago | Modified 8 hours agoGREY WHITEBLOOMGrey Whitebloom is an Associate Editor for SI FC. He has more than half a decade of experience in sports media across all its various guises, from the fast-paced demands of news articles and match reports to in-depth research required for features. Whitebloom graduated with a First Class Honours from University College London and found himself named on the Dean’s List—which, despite his initial fears, was a form of praise rather than a punishment. He specialises in the Premier League and Champions League, while also boasting an extensive track record of La Liga coverage.