Charge brought against the Foxes came out of the blue for Maresca

BOSS ALSO UNAWARE OF TRANSFER WINDOW SITUATION UNTIL IT OPENED

LEICESTER City’s Premier League charge came out of the blue for Enzo Maresca, who was not aware of potential financial issues when he joined the club last June.

City have been referred to an independent commission for an alleged breach of Profit and Sustainability rules for the three years up to the end of the 2022-23 season.

The accounting period ended last June, just after Maresca joined the club.

But the manager said at his press conference yesterday afternoon that there were no indications of issues to come down the line when he first put pen to paper on a contract.

The Italian also made reference to the club’s lack of business in the January window, having only been informed as the transfer market opened that the club would need to sell before they could buy.

The club were ultimately left empty-handed as midfielder Stefano Sensi’s move from Inter Milan broke down on deadline day.

It’s understood that Maresca clarified in a separate interview that the news of the Premier League was a surprise for the club as well.

If found by the independent commission to have been in breach, City could be handed a points deduction, which would likely come next season.

Asked if he had been made aware of the issue when he first moved to the King Power Stadium from Manchester City, Maresca said: “No. Nobody mentioned to me in January that we would not be able to bring in players, and nobody mentioned to me that we had this problem.

“So the window market and this news was completely new for me. “The club and the lawyers from the club are in charge of that. “I’m quite sure of what they have to do.

“I’m just focused every day on training and games, and that’s all.”

City have to file their accounts for the 22-23 season by the end of the month, meaning they will be released publicly soon. That should give more clarity on the club’s financial predicament. However, it would be until the independent commission has concluded that the level of the alleged breach is fully revealed. From charge to points deduction, Nottingham Forest’s case took nine weeks, and so City may be waiting a while to hear the judgement.

Nobody mentioned to me in January that we would not be able to bring in players

City manager Enzo Maresca