Pressure Mounts on Premier League to Resolve Manchester City Financial Case Before Season Ends.

The English Premier League is pushing for a swift conclusion to the long running financial rules case involving Manchester City, with senior football figures expressing confidence that the matter could be resolved before the current season ends.

According to BBC Sport on Wednesday, influential figures within the game believe there is no reason why the process cannot be wrapped up in the coming months. Manchester City were found guilty of all charges relating to alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009 10 and 2017 18 seasons.

The charges included allegations that the club artificially inflated revenue by more than £900m through sponsorship arrangements claims that City have consistently denied. The club is expected to appeal the guilty verdict.

The case has already dragged on for three years since City were initially charged, sparking concerns that the final punishment could face further delays. However, one club official told BBC Sport that resolving the matter quickly would benefit everyone involved. Another source said the process "should" be concluded by the end of the campaign and expressed hope that any appeal would be handled within a compressed timeframe.

There is growing pressure to settle the case before the season ends because allowing City to complete another campaign without punishment could create significant uncertainty particularly if they challenge for or win the Premier League title. The final decision on City's punishment rests with an independent commission, with both the Premier League and the club able to make submissions on what they believe the appropriate sanction should be.

Premier League regulations state that an appeal should normally be concluded within 12 weeks of being filed, with a decision expected within 30 days of the appeal ending. However, it remains unclear whether those provisions will apply directly to City's case. Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has previously suggested the process could continue for a considerable period.

City cannot make a further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although they could potentially challenge the process at the High Court on grounds relating to impartiality. The Premier League has said it wants the case to be "concluded as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, City's main sponsor Etihad Airways has rejected any suggestion that it was involved in improper commercial arrangements. The airline said it was considering legal advice over the way the findings were communicated, adding that it had not been given an opportunity to participate in the process and was concerned that the Premier League's public statements had created damaging implications for the company. The Premier League declined to comment on Etihad's statement.