Lawyer Who Won Man City in Court Informs Liverpool of Relegation Verdict on 115 Charges
Nick de Marco represented Benjamin Mendy in his employment tribunal against Manchester City earlier this month.
Nick de Marco KC, a prominent sports lawyer, has shared his opinion that Manchester City should not face relegation, even if found guilty of committing significant financial breaches.
The 57-year-old lawyer recently represented former City defender Benjamin Mendy in a successful claim for £11 million in unpaid wages against the club.
Mendy had taken Manchester City to a two-day employment tribunal in Manchester, accusing the club of wrongfully halting his £500,000-per-month salary after he was charged with sëx offences and remanded in custody in August 2021. He was later acquitted of these charges.
Although De Marco represented Mendy in the case against the club, he has previously stated that he does not believe Manchester City should be relegated if they lose their Financial Fair Play (FFP) hearing, with Liverpool keeping a close watch on the situation.
Speaking to The Times in September, De Marco said: “In my view, things as important as promotion and relegation should be determined on the pitch.
“It spoils the game for it to be determined by people like me; lawyers, accountants and ex-lawyers, who are arbitrators, hearing legal arguments behind closed doors.
“I’m going to make my money out of it, that’s my business. But I don’t necessarily think it’s right.”
De Marco also dismissed the notion of a points deduction, a penalty that has previously been imposed on Everton and Nottingham Forest. He contended:
“As a football fan, I really do think points deductions should be the very last thing people look at for breaches.
“Yet it’s becoming a routine starting point and I do think that spoils a lot of the fun and entertainment of the game. I can see the argument for points deductions, because they can be the best way to redress a sporting advantage given the obvious flaws with financial penalties.
“If you are a very wealthy owner – intent on just spending anything in breach of the rules – you’re not going to worry too much about financial penalty, but I still think point deductions should be a last resort.”
In February 2023, the Premier League presented over 100 allegations of financial misconduct against Manchester City.
However, the private 10-week hearing did not commence until September of this year. As the hearing is being held privately, details remain confidential.
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