The independent commission investigating Manchester City’s alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules have found Everton guilty of all 115 charges after a brief hearing at an undisclosed location.
City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
During the 7-minute hearing this morning, City’s team of lawyers presented a ‘comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence’ which proved Everton were solely responsible for City’s 115 financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018.
The commission ruled that Everton will be relegated to League Two with immediate effect and should pay both City’s and the Premier League’s legal costs.
For their part in the debacle, City have agreed to make a ‘generous donation’ to the Premier League’s Christmas party drinks kitty.
The traditional team photo ahead of Manchester City’s biggest test of the season.#115Charges pic.twitter.com/lKc5JnvLDF
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) September 16, 2024
City’s legal team, which includes O.J. Simpson attorney Robert Shapiro, Albuquerque-based lawyer Saul Goodman and personal injury specialist Lionel Hutz, said they were satisfied with the ruling.
‘The club wishes to thank the panel members for their diligence and the due process that they administered’, Goodman told Paddy Power News.
‘Everton had that one coming for 16 seasons of Tony Hibbert alone. Ha!’, he laughed awkwardly.
When asked how he managed to convince the commission that the Toffees were culpable for City’s alleged financial irregularities, Goodman explained:
‘Maybe it’s the new suit – which was a very kind gift from Sheikh Mansour may I add!
‘I look like a young Paul Newman dressed as Matlock’.
‘And FYI, old people adore me’.
Meanwhile, Everton have confirmed they won’t be appealing the decision and thanked the commission for their handling of the investigation.
‘Having watched our first four Premier League games this season, demotion to the bottom tier is probably in the club’s best interests’, Blues owner Farhad Moshiri told Paddy Power News.
‘I think we found our level with the Doncaster win’, he admitted.
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