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Manchester City wait for a final response to more than 115 charges of alleged financial misconduct(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Premier League have introduced a new set of rules around arbitration of legal disputes that is set to change the way cases, such as the investigation into Manchester City's alleged breaches of financial rules, are handled.

Other clubs, Liverpool possibly included, would reportedly 'welcome' these new changes.

City are still to hear the final outcome of over 115 allegations of breaking the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018, then subsequently failing to cooperate with the investigation.



It took until September 2024 to begin tribunal proceedings which lasted three months and an update earlier this week claimed that an outcome will not arrive before October 2025 at the very soonest.

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City anxiously have been forced to operate this hanging overhead whilst their rivals such as Liverpool await the end verdict as they too could end up impacted by what is yet to be announced.

On the one hand, were City found guilty it could have a major repercussion at a footballing level.

Pep Guardiola's side have been threatened with expulsion from the English top-flight, points deductions, stripped titles, financial penalties or transfer embargoes.

On the other, if the Premier League's accusations are not found to be true then it could have a devastating impact on the current set of rules for all clubs involved.

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So, the updated Premier League Handbook for 2025/26, as highlighted by The Times, has introduced changes to rule W2 that means clubs are obliged to preserve all relevant documents and information, even private messages, as soon as they are told they are under investigation for a suspected rule breach.

Clubs are now required to notify all officials and even players who might be connected with the investigation - former officials or players included - and tell them that no information should be deleted.

Another new rule states that arbitrators involved in Premier League cases 'must sign a statement of impartiality' and confirm they are not aware of anything that could 'reasonably give rise to justifiable doubts as to their impartiality or independence in relation to the dispute concerned'.

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Arbitrators also have to confirm that they are able to devote 'sufficient time, diligence and industry to ensure the expeditious and efficient conduct of the arbitration'.

There is nothing outlined that suggests the rule changes around sufficient time is in relation to a particular case, but in theory these changes should help to expedite any future instances where a club is put under investigation by the Premier League and then later formally charged with an infringement.

The Times suggest clubs will 'welcome' the new rules in response to how long it has taken an arbitration panel to rule on City's alleged breaches.


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