Manchester City have been found guilty on almost all of the Premier League’s financial charges against the club, according to sources briefed on the case.
City were reportedly found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges, bringing a dramatic development to a case that has hung over the Premier League champions for years.
The sanctions have not yet been decided, meaning the full consequences for the club remain unknown.
City are also expected to appeal any final decision.
The Premier League first charged the club in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.
The case was subsequently referred to an independent commission, which has now reached its findings.
City have consistently denied the allegations.
A Manchester City spokesperson told The Athletic: “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 has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
The club’s original response in February 2023 said City were “surprised” by the charges and welcomed the opportunity for an independent commission to examine the case.
The Premier League’s allegations covered several areas, including claims that City failed to provide accurate financial information and details concerning payments to players and coaches.
The charges also included alleged breaches of UEFA financial fair play regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
The saga can be traced back to November 2018, when German publication Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents relating to Manchester City.
UEFA subsequently handed City a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine in February 2020 following its own investigation.
That punishment did not stand.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the two-year ban five months later, ruling that the alleged financial fair play breaches had either not been established or were time-barred under UEFA regulations.
However, City were found to have failed to cooperate with UEFA by not providing substantial amounts of evidence.
CAS described that breach as “severe” and said it needed to be “seriously reproached”, resulting in an £8.8 million fine.
The Premier League case is separate and has taken significantly longer to reach this stage.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has repeatedly faced questions about the length of the process.
Masters acknowledged last month that the case had “taken longer than expected” but maintained that the “only available route” was to “let the process take its course”.
The potential consequences now become the biggest question surrounding the case.
Premier League rule W.51 allows for a wide range of sanctions, including a reprimand, financial penalties, points deductions and even expulsion from the competition.
A points deduction could potentially be applied either going forward or retrospectively, creating the possibility of consequences extending beyond City’s current campaign.
James Hill, a legal director specialising in sports regulatory matters at Onside Law, previously told The Athletic:
“I would expect that if there is a points deduction, it would be applied going forward,”
“Generally, panels don’t like deciding titles in a court process. Doing it that way does not give a real tangible punishment to the club.”
The rules also allow the panel to combine sanctions or impose other measures it considers appropriate.
Any punishment, however, would have to be proportionate to the breaches established and could be challenged through an appeal.
The timing of the findings adds another layer to the story.
Manchester City have started the 2026-27 Premier League season strongly under new manager Enzo Maresca, winning their opening five league matches and sitting top of the table.
The club also spent heavily during the summer, including £125 million on Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a British record-equalling transfer.
Now, with the verdict on the majority of the charges reportedly established, attention turns towards the sanctions and the appeal process.
After years of waiting, the Premier League’s long-running Manchester City case has entered its most consequential phase yet.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
