Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League over alleged breaches of its financial regulations.
The verdict represents a major development in a case that has hung over the club for several years, although the process is far from finished.
No sanction has yet been decided, with potential punishments ranging from fines and points deductions to, at the most severe end of the Premier League’s disciplinary powers, expulsion from the competition.
City are expected to appeal the verdict.
What have Manchester City been found guilty of?
The Premier League originally charged City in February 2023 following a lengthy investigation into the club’s finances.
According to sources briefed on the verdict, the independent commission has now found City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges.
The charges concerned alleged breaches across a period stretching from 2009 to 2018 and included accusations that City failed to provide accurate financial information, including details relating to revenue and payments to managers and players.
Other charges concerned UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, the Premier League’s financial rules and City’s alleged failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation. City have consistently denied wrongdoing.
What have City said?
The club have stressed that the process remains ongoing and referenced their previous position from when the charges were announced in 2023.
A City spokesperson said:
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.”
The club also said it had respected due process throughout the lengthy proceedings.
When the charges were initially announced in 2023, City said they were surprised by them and welcomed the opportunity for an independent commission to consider the evidence supporting their position.
What happens next?
The biggest unanswered question is what punishment Manchester City will receive.
The independent commission has a wide range of sanctions available under Premier League rules, and no decision on the punishment has yet been announced.
Possible sanctions can include a reprimand, financial penalties, stripped of title, points deductions or even expulsion from the Premier League, while the commission can also combine punishments or impose another sanction it considers appropriate.
Any punishment would have to be proportionate to the breaches established. City are expected to appeal, meaning the case could continue even after the commission announces its sanction.
Could City be deducted points?
Yes. A points deduction is one of the punishments available, although there is currently no confirmation that this will be City’s sanction or how large any deduction could be.
There will inevitably also be questions over City’s previous titles following the verdict. However, no decision to strip the club of any trophies has been announced, and it would be premature to suggest that will happen.
The immediate focus will instead be on the commission’s decision over sanctions and City’s expected appeal.
How did the case begin?
The case can be traced back to leaked financial documents published by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018.
The Premier League subsequently opened an investigation before announcing more than 100 charges against City in February 2023.
It was not City’s first major financial case. UEFA banned the club from European competition for two seasons in 2020 and imposed a €30million fine, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned the ban after finding some alleged breaches were not established and others were time-barred.
CAS did, however, find City had failed to cooperate with UEFA’s investigation and imposed a reduced fine.
A huge moment for the Premier League
The verdict comes during a remarkable period for City.
After Pep Guardiola left the club following ten years in charge, Enzo Maresca has overseen a perfect start to the 2026/27 Premier League season, with City winning their opening five matches and sitting top of the table.
They also spent around £450million during the summer transfer window as the club began a new era following Guardiola’s departure.
What happens next could therefore have major consequences for both Manchester City and the wider Premier League. For now, however, the key point is that the verdict has reportedly been reached, but the sanction has not.
