Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has claimed that Manchester City’s long-standing financial case with the Premier League could reach a conclusion within six weeks, potentially allowing the club to avoid severe sporting sanctions.

The reigning Premier League title contenders are appealing an independent commission’s verdict that found them guilty of serious breaches of financial regulations. Manchester City maintains its innocence, asserting that it possesses evidence to overturn the findings.

Keown provided insights during a live segment on talkSPORT, suggesting:

• A decision could arrive sooner than expected.
• The outcome might not be as severe as anticipated, possibly resulting in financial penalties rather than relegation or significant points deductions.

“I’m hearing rumours that this will all be over in a number of weeks,” Keown stated. “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.”

His remarks raise the possibility of Manchester City facing financial fines instead of the harsher penalties that have been widely discussed. However, Keown emphasized that he was sharing rumors rather than confirmed updates.

Manchester City’s legal battle intensified after an independent commission delivered its findings in September, identifying serious financial rule breaches from the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons, which included misleading commercial arrangements and failures to cooperate with the investigation. The club lodged an appeal on October 1, insisting that the commission’s conclusions were flawed.

If Keown’s information proves accurate, a minor sanction like a financial fine could provoke backlash from rival supporters. Manchester City was found guilty of 114 financial breaches, leading to calls for severe penalties from opposition fans and rival executives. If the club resolves the appeal mainly through financial settlements, it could lead to significant frustration among clubs that faced strict penalties for lesser breaches.