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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has claimed that Manchester City will receive 'huge fines' for their financial breaches. The ex-England stopper suggested that the legal proceedings could be brought to an end within a number of weeks. City have lodged an appeal against the 114 charges that they were found guilty of by an independent commission. The Premier League leaders have been accused of using 'sham' contracts to artificially inflate their revenue by more than £900million, breaking top-flight spending limits and not fully cooperating with the investigation. Enzo Maresca's side face allegations of cheating and financial doping with suspected punishments ranging from fines, points deductions or even expulsion from the top-flight and English Football League (EFL).
Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday (October 19), Keown said: "They're resolute, they believe that they're right, and their owners are giving them that firm message, 'irrefutable evidence' will be revealed, so they're holding onto that. There is a feeling... I'm hearing rumours that this will all be over in a number of weeks.
"I'm just telling you what I'm hearing. In six weeks or so, we'll see what's going to happen, and it won't be nearly as bad as we think it might be. Maybe they get off with huge fines and we return to the football pitch again."
As revealed by The Telegraph over the weekend, Premier League clubs are reportedly fearing that City will not be punished for their potential crimes until next season. Concerns have been raised over the legitimacy of this season's Premier League with City top and undefeated in seven. Several top-flight clubs are said to be angered at City's unwillingness to agree a settlement that would start the process in concluding legal matters and lift the uncertainty surrounding the Premier League.
The Telegraph have also reported that City remain bullish in their efforts to win in their appeal against the Independent Commission's verdict. City are said to be basing their battle for justice on contemparenous bank statements, goverment records and receipts which confirm the Abu Dhabi government as the source of funds.
Plus they feel that there is 'fundamental inconsistencies' in the findings by the panel while they are willing to present more recent evidence from the Abu Dhabi government as the source of funding. On the pitch, the team faced hostility at Anfield but came through unscathed as they beat 10-man Liverpool 3-0.
Maresca feels that the team are stronger as a result of the criticism. He said: "There is noise around the club but we need to try and make our noise and that means win at Anfield and to try to win tomorrow (against Ipswich). This is the way we can make our noise. This different kind of noise, we are not able to control that.
"I think Ruben said that people don't like City winning but we like to win. I think that it's a good message for everyone. Since the noise, I can see from my personal point of view the fans, the club, the team more together but we will see."
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