Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick says Premier League clubs want a quick resolution to Manchester City’s long-running disciplinary case involving more than 100 alleged financial rule breaches.
The independent commission handling the matter has yet to issue its verdict, more than 18 months after the hearing ended and around three and a half years since City were charged. The club has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking ahead of the new Premier League season, Garlick acknowledged the frustration over the delay but said the outcome was beyond 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.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has also admitted that the process has taken longer than anticipated.
“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.
He described the case as “hugely complex” and stressed that the independent process must be allowed to reach its conclusion.
“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 prolonged case is reportedly causing concern among several clubs, while officials maintain that the independent commission is working to its own timetable.
One club source called for the league to improve its disciplinary system to ensure future cases are concluded more efficiently.
The financial burden of lengthy legal disputes is also a concern, with the Premier League spending £45 million on legal costs during the 2023-24 season, largely on cases linked to its financial regulations.
