Stefan Borson reveals what he spotted as Man City legal letters revealed in full after bust-up

Stefan Borson Reveals Insights on Man City Legal Letters After Bust-Up

Stefan Borson, a prominent football finance expert, has analyzed recently revealed full legal letters in Manchester City's ongoing dispute with the Premier League (PL), highlighting the club's aggressive legal strategy amid 115 charges of financial misconduct.

The Court of Appeal recently ruled on City's secret two-year-plus battle with the PL over alleged rule breaches, expressing dissatisfaction with arguments from City's QC, Lord Pannick, deeming them "entirely fanciful."[1] Borson notes the judges view City's tactics as weak and protracted, consistent with a 2013 leaked email where chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak preferred spending £30m on lawyers over settling with UEFA.[1] City has fought every point, resisting processes and appealing judgments, mirroring their successful UEFA defense where CAS found "no evidence" of wrongdoing 11 times and affirmed sponsor deals at fair value.[1]

New allegations, per the Mail on Sunday, claim City's accounts were inaccurate and exaggerated over years, disguising third-party payments as sponsorship revenue.[2] An independent commission hearing ran from September to December 2024, but no verdict has emerged. Borson reveals City's Etihad filings state the decision was pending as of publication, likely pushing resolution into 2026 due to holidays and PR concerns.[2] He calls the delay "inexplicable" for a private arbitration, with City spending ~£25m and PL matching it.[2]

In a related discussion, Borson warns the "glacial" process could span multiple seasons, affecting liability and sanctions, potentially damaging both City and PL if unresolved favorably.[3] Past UEFA findings were overturned at CAS, which rejected claims of false testimony from officials and auditors like Deloitte.[4] Conspiracy theories, including a "mystery UAE figure" paying £30m in 2012-2013, stem from leaked UEFA reports, but time bars may limit older charges.[4]

Borson emphasizes City's clean audited accounts under current ownership and burden of proof on accusers, positioning the club to contest vigorously.[1] The saga underscores tensions between due process and league integrity.

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