Manchester City hearing: Everything we know about the 115 charges and the sanctions faced by the Premier League champion

It is the trial that could change the face of English football, and it begins today. Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions and arguably one of the powerhouses of world football, will face 115 charges for allegedly breaking the financial rules of the competition it has made its own.

The trial will take place at an undisclosed location, with authorities clearly keen to avoid the media rush that would accompany confirmation of the venue.

The independent hearing, widely dubbed the “trial of the century,” is expected to last about 10 weeks, with a final verdict not expected until early 2025.

What seasons do the accusations come from?

It is difficult to determine when these alleged offences took place. The accusations span 14 years, from 2009, when Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as manager, to 2023, when Pep Guardiola finally won the club's coveted Champions League.

During that time, City won seven Premier League titles, not to mention three FA Cups and six League Cups. And then, of course, an era of unprecedented glory was capped by the 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul, which saw City lift Europe's biggest prize for the first time in their history.

What are the accusations?

The 115 charges are divided into five different categories. The most significant relates to providing accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18, with the city facing 54 alleged breaches.

There are also 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details of player and manager payments from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The remainder include five counts of breaching UEFA regulations, including Financial Fair Play (FFP), from 2013/14 to 2017/18, and seven counts of breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) from 2015/16 to 2017/18.

The latest charges span from December 2018 to February 2023. City are alleged to have failed to cooperate with Premier League investigations on no fewer than 35 occasions.

What are the potential penalties?

Contrary to popular belief, Brendan Rodgers will not be enthusiastically calling up Joe Allen and Simon Mignolet to acknowledge their contribution to Liverpool's 2013/14 Premier League title, as City will not be stripped of their previous titles. Nor will Jose Mourinho be joking about being the “number four” in England after United finished second to City in 2017/18.

But if the allegations are proven, the independent commission investigating the case will have unlimited powers to impose sanctions. And those sanctions could radically change the future of English football.

Punishments could range from hefty fines to points deductions. While City's record is likely to remain intact, the worst-case scenario could see them relegated or expelled from the Premier League, raising the prospect of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Harland attempting to unlock the defences of Swansea and Plymouth next season.

Inevitably, the club has assembled a strong legal team to fight the charges, with every loophole or favourable regulation set to be exploited to the fullest. Whether it's rivals rejoicing at their demise or seething with rage at their unfair acquittal, the outcome of all the charges will have fallout that will far outstrip the length of the trial itself.

Fasten your seat belts. A terrible mess awaits you.