According to reports from The Athletic, Manchester City have been found guilty of the bulk of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. The club was found guilty on almost every count, following a four-year investigation into breaches of financial rules in the competition.
The charges relate to City’s financial reporting from 2009 to 2018, covering sponsorship income, player payments and compliance with Uefa’s financial fair play and Premier League profit and sustainability rules. City have always denied wrongdoing, and BBC Sport has been told they would appeal were they found guilty.
What The Charges Cover
City were charged with 115 financial breaches. The charges were referred to an independent commission in February 2023, after the Premier League’s investigation into alleged breaches that took place between 2009 and 2018.
| Charge | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 FFP | 5 |
| Breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules | 7 |
| Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations | 35 |
The Road To This Point
For many years, the case has been active. In November 2018, allegations connected to Football Leaks came to light when Der Spiegel published claims that Manchester City broke financial fair play rules. The German newspaper alleged that the club had inflated sponsorship revenue from Etihad and Etisalat, disguising direct investment from ADUG as sponsorship income in a way that met FFP and PSR rules.
City refused to comment, saying the leaked emails were obtained illegally and it was an “attempt to damage the club’s reputation.” City strongly denied breaking any financial rules, but that did not stop both Uefa and the Premier League launching investigations.
The passage of time has been marked by struggle. November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) ruled that City’s appeal inadmissible. February 2020: Uefa announces a two-year ban for City and a 30m fine. July 2020: City’s European ban had been overturned at Cas.
The Verdict, And What Happens Next
The club expect to find out the verdict on “within one month” in February 2025, according to city manager Pep Guardiola, who departed the Etihad at the end of last season.
When approached on Friday, the Premier League declined to comment on the case. In response, City issued a statement saying the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements yet to be completed.
“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 verdict has not yet been made public, and the independent panel has yet to issue its full ruling. The appeal route is still available, so nothing has been determined yet.
What The Verdict Could Mean
One possible punishment is deduction of points, either immediately or with delay. Another possible punishment is a financial penalty, also either immediately or with delay. A third possible punishment is removal from the Premier League, which would mean the club loses its membership and is demoted to a lower division from the end of the season.
The Premier League stands as the independent body with the authority to take away titles or expel City from the league. Until then, the club wait to hear the full verdict.
Source material: “Relegation? Titles stripped? Appeals? What next for Man City,” the BBC.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.