Betting brand Paddy Power has taken a cheeky dig at Manchester City on the same day the club’s high-profile hearing over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules began.
In a post on X, Paddy Power posted a picture of eleven individuals dressed as barristers complete with wigs and gowns in front of the Etihad Stadium, City’s home ground.
A banner in the photo read: ‘Manchester City Legal Team 2024-25’.
Paddy Power also added the caption: ‘The traditional team photo ahead of Manchester City’s biggest test of the season’.
Unsurprisingly, none of those featured in the picture will represent City during the trial.
Manchester City stand accused of 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (left) has consistently claimed the club is innocent
Guardiola has had to keep his players focused despite the off-field drama surround the club
Instead, City’s legal team consists of Paul Harris, Lord David Pannick, Philip Marshall, James Mather and Clifford Chance.
City fans have already shown their support for Pannick when they unfurled a banner in February this year that read: ‘Pannick on the Streets of London’.
The banner was a play on the lyrics to iconic Smiths song ‘Panic’.
However, City’s top brass will hope there is no such panic in the court rooms as they aim to prove their innocence regarding 115 separate alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The Premier League accused City of breaching the rules as early as 2009 and charged the club with a failure to provide accurate financial information and details of player and manager payments.
City also are accused of bringing in money from the club’s ownership via various sponsors based in the United Arab Emirates.
Should City be found guilty, the strongest possible punishment would be relegation, wile points deductions and fines may also be dished out.
City have consistently denied any wrongdoing as a verdict from the hearing is not expected to be made public until spring 2025 at the earliest, per reports.
Lord David Pannick is one of the lawyers hired to represent Manchester City in their case
City could face a punishment as severe as relegation should they be found guilty
Since 2009, City have won the Premier League a staggering eight times and are hunting their fifth-straight title this season.
In that time, City have won the FA Cup three times, the EFL Cup six times and the Champions League once.
Last Friday, City boss Pep Guardiola said all at the club are ready to finally learn the long-awaited verdict.
‘It’s going to happen and we’re going to accept the sentence,’ Guardiola said.
‘I’m happy that it’s going to start on Monday and we’re going to see.
‘I know what people are looking for, I know what they’re expecting but everyone is innocent until guilty is proven.’
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