Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, in a verdict that could reshape the recent history of English football’s top flight.
The ruling, delivered by an independent commission after a case spanning more than three years, relates to alleged breaches of the league’s financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.
According to multiple British football journalists, including The Athletic’s David Ornstein, City have been found guilty on virtually all counts relating to the club’s financial disclosures and cooperation with Premier League investigators during the period under review. The club is understood to be preparing an appeal against the findings, meaning any final resolution remains some way off.
A Case Nearly a Decade in the Making
The charges were first brought against Manchester City in February 2023, following a four-year Premier League investigation triggered by leaked financial documents.
City were accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, misrepresenting manager and player remuneration, breaching Premier League and UEFA financial fair play rules, and failing to cooperate fully with the League’s inquiries.
An independent commission heard the case over roughly two months between September and December 2024, after which the panel’s deliberations continued in strict confidentiality for close to two years.
Manchester City have consistently and strongly denied all wrongdoing throughout the process, describing it in a recent statement as one in which they have “diligently respected due process” while awaiting a decision from what they expect to be “an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator.”
The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.” Manchester City FC statement
What Sanctions Could Follow
While the verdict on guilt has reportedly been reached, the question of punishment is a separate and still unresolved stage of the process.
Sanctions previously floated by pundits and legal analysts have ranged from a heavy points deduction and significant fines to, at the most extreme end, expulsion from the Premier League. Some commentary has also raised the possibility that penalties could be applied retrospectively across the nine-year period in question, which would place several of City’s Premier League title wins under scrutiny.
City’s Season Continues Amid the Cloud
The verdict lands in the middle of what has, on the pitch, been a near-perfect start to the season for Manchester City under head coach Enzo Maresca. The club has maintained a 100% record through its opening league fixtures and currently sits at the top of the Premier League table, underlining the strange duality of a club performing strongly on the field while facing its most serious off-field reckoning in over a decade.
Source: David Orstein