Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial-rule charges brought against them by the Premier League, in a major development in the long-running case.
The verdict was reported on Friday by The Athletic and subsequently confirmed by Reuters, although the Premier League has not publicly announced the outcome.
No sanction has yet been determined, and City are expected to appeal the ruling.
The case dates back to February 2023, when the Premier League referred the club to an independent commission over alleged breaches of its financial regulations covering several seasons.
City were accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, including details relating to revenue, player and manager payments, and their compliance with financial sustainability rules. The club was also charged with failing to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that they had a comprehensive body of evidence supporting their position.
In a statement on Friday, the club said its position remained unchanged, stressing that the Premier League process was still ongoing and subject to confidentiality.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,” the club said.
City also said it had respected due process and expected the Premier League’s board and executive to act as an independent and impartial regulator.
The independent commission’s reported ruling follows a 12-week hearing that concluded in December 2024. The case had remained unresolved for almost two years after the hearing, with Premier League chief executive Richard Masters previously acknowledging that the process had taken longer than expected.
Possible sanctions
The punishment, if any, has not yet been announced. The range of possible sanctions under discussion in previous reporting has included a points deduction and, in the most serious scenario, expulsion from the Premier League.
However, such measures have not been imposed, and their eventual form would depend on the commission’s formal decision and any subsequent appeal.
The development could have implications beyond Manchester City, given the club’s sustained success during the period covered by the allegations. City have won eight Premier League titles and the Champions League since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group took ownership of the club in 2008.
Any future ruling affecting titles or other sporting records would be a separate matter from the reported findings and would require the relevant authorities to determine the consequences.
The case has also attracted attention because of its potential impact on English football’s financial regulations and the relationship between the Premier League and its clubs.
For now, the reported verdict does not represent the end of the dispute. Manchester City are expected to appeal, meaning the case could continue through another stage before any final outcome is established.
