Manchester City have been found guilty of a majority of the 115 charges they faced over financial breaches, and Premier League clubs are already asking whether they can claim compensation.
The Athletic reported the decision on Friday, noting that 114 of the original 115 counts were sustained. The case had been looming over the sport for well over a thousand days, with City charged by the Premier League in February 2023 during a four-year investigation, and the verdict finally reached 22 months ago.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, the city club faces a heavy penalty, and a guilty verdict on the most serious charges would put them at risk of a points deduction serious enough to push them down to a lower division, large fines, or even expulsion from the Premier League.
The clubs already reaching for lawyers
Several English top-division clubs are reported to have been in touch with UEFA, prior to Friday’s news, had already started seeking legal advice over whether they would have a case for financial compensation as a result of City’s breaches, over concerns about the European governing body’s new rules.
A senior figure who once held an executive post at one Premier League club before shifting to another said the clubs would likely file individual claims for damages against Manchester City. But a leading lawyer told the BBC that the league could instead centralise that process.
There is a precedent for the compensation question. In June, Everton were instructed to pay Burnley £35m after they violated profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) over a three-year stretch.
Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated with being relegated. Everton have appealed, with sources saying they will “robustly and thoroughly” contest the ruling.
What City said
Manchester City issued a statement, saying that the Premier League process is still underway with important steps yet to be finished, and that the matter is subject to strict confidentiality.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
The club has decided to contest the findings. Should it pursue that route, the case’s unresolved status might continue to affect the top flight.
The charges in full
A total of 115 charges were brought against the club, covering its entire operation under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, spanning a decade, and then the first two years of Pep Guardiola’s reign — a period that came to an end after he left the club following 10 seasons at the close of the 2025-26 campaign.
The charges break down as follows:
| Charge | Number of counts |
|---|---|
| Failure to provide accurate financial information | 54 |
| Failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments | 14 |
| Failure to comply with Uefa’s rules including Financial Fair Play (FFP) | 5 |
| Breaching Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) | 7 |
| Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations | 35 |
Over the period in question, the club brought home eight trophies, with the spoils split between three Premier League crowns, three League Cups, one Community Shield, and one FA Cup.
The Times and football finance expert Kieran Maguire have proposed that the number of charges is as high as 130, though BBC Sport has been unable to verify this.
What happens next
An independent panel has rendered its ruling, and most of the charges against the accused have been upheld. The penalty decided by the panel will come forward before any appeal is completed.
According to a source who spoke to the BBC, a select number of club directors were told by email and required to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they were allowed to look at the document.
As the punishment and the appeal process remain outstanding, the Premier League still faces questions about its financial arrangements.
The city’s argument will be presented once more, and the clubs surrounding them will consider whether they can claim compensation.
Source material: “Clubs seek legal advice over Man City charges compensation,” the BBC.
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