Arsenal chief calls for clarity on Man City charges

Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick says everyone in the Premier League wants clarity and a speedy resolution to the disciplinary case involving Manchester City, which includes more than 100 alleged breaches of the league’s financial rules.

The independent commission handling the case has yet to publish its ruling, more than 18 months after the disciplinary hearing concluded and around three and a half years after Manchester City were first charged.

City have consistently denied wrongdoing.

Speaking ahead of the new Premier League season as reported by BBC on Wednesday, Garlick acknowledged the frustration caused by the lengthy process but stressed that the outcome was outside Arsenal’s control.

“It has gone on for a while. Everybody, the league and the teams, would want the clarity around what’s going to happen next.

“But it’s not something that I can control. It’s not something that I can speculate on.

“And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly,” he said.

His comments come after Premier League chief executive Richard Masters also admitted that the case was taking longer than expected.

“I do accept it’s taking longer than expected, and I understand that people want to find out as soon as possible what’s going on, but I simply can’t provide that,” Masters said.

Masters described the case as “hugely complex” and insisted that the Premier League must allow the independent process to run its course.

“Our rules are very clear – we have to follow the process, and there’s only one real clear route through, which is to allow that process to reach its natural conclusion,” he said.

The delay is understood to be causing concern among a number of Premier League clubs, although officials recognise that the independent commission is operating on its own timetable.

One club source suggested that the Premier League should be “actively seeking to put in place a better system” to ensure that future disciplinary cases are resolved more quickly.

There are also growing concerns over the financial cost of prolonged legal disputes. The Premier League spent £45m on legal bills during the 2023-24 season, largely in disputes relating to its financial regulations.

For now, however, clubs must wait for the independent commission’s decision, with Garlick among those hoping the long-running Manchester City case can finally reach a conclusion.