Premier League chief executive Richard Masters provides an updated timetable for Manchester City’s trial date over 115 alleged financial breach charges.

Richard Masters has shed light on a potential timeline for the impending trial Manchester City will face after being charged by the Premier League with 115 breaches of the organisation’s financial regulations.

Mail Sport previously reported that the trial would likely begin in late autumn this year, almost a year and a half after the club’s indictment was announced in February 2023.

Manchester City will defend themselves against the allegations at a hearing overseen by an independent panel in what is arguably the biggest case of its kind in the competition’s history.

The alleged violations cover a period of more than 9 years and are said to extend from 2009 – a year after Sheikh Mansour’s takeover of the club in 2008 – until 2018, when an investigation into the club was opened by the Premier League.

Since the charges were announced, the Premier League and the club at the center of the investigation have shared few details ahead of the hearing.

But the Premier League chief executive suggested the hearing would take place as soon as possible in his remarks on Friday.

Richard Masters sheds light on upcoming hearing into Manchester City’s 115 alleged financial rules breaches

The period in which the alleged offenses allegedly took place extends from 2009 to 2018 (pictured winning the Premier League that year).

The investigation could remain unfinished before summer 2025 – barring the possibility of delays

According to The telegraphMasters said the hearing would take place in the “near future.”

“We cannot comment on the matter, the date is set,” Masters added. “The matter will resolve itself in the near future.”

While the announcement that the process is expected to begin before the end of next year is likely a relief to those following the trial, reaching a conclusion could prove more complex.

Mail Sport reported that Pep Guardiola’s side may not see a resolution to the matter until the end of the 2024-25 season, in November last year.

Delays could delay proceedings further, as could a possible appeal against a club verdict.

However, Man City are unable to make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where they successfully had their Champions League ban handed down by UEFA overturned.

The accusations against the club include claims over financial reporting and a lack of cooperation with the Premier League’s investigation six years ago.

The city denies any wrongdoing.

Masters also used his presence at the press conference of the 48th General Assembly of the European Leagues in London on Friday to highlight player welfare concerns regarding the number of fixtures in which top-level players participate, stressing that the schedule was at a “critical point”.

“Something has to give,” Masters added of the busy schedules.

Pep Guardiola is one of many voices to share Masters’ view on dating ‘tipping point’

The general manager is just one of the latest voices to speak out about his concerns about the number of games players play in a calendar year.

Guardiola himself used his post-match remarks after his Man City side booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals to brand his players’ schedule as “unacceptable”.

Rodri and Bernardo Silva have also expressed concerns about their schedules in recent weeks, with Silva claiming after the 1-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley that he had been playing through a minor injury.

“I wasn’t doing well at all,” he said, echoing Guardiola’s views on the schedule. ‘It’s too much. It wasn’t fair because the FA didn’t give us a chance to recover. It seems like they don’t care because we’ve said it repeatedly.