Man City 115 Charges: Most Proven, Appeal Stage Reached

Reports: Most Manchester City Charges Proven, Appeal Stage Reached

Reports claim an independent tribunal has found most of Manchester City's 115 Premier League charges proven, with the process moving to appeal. City deny all charges. The Premier League is not commenting on this confidential process.

Charges: 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, spanning 2009–2018
Hearing: September 16 to December 6, 2024, before a three-person independent commission
Status: Process moving to appeal stage, according to Sky Sports News
Premier League: Not commenting; process private and confidential
Potential punishments: Points deduction, fine, or even expulsion

What was 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."
— Manchester City spokesperson

"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."
— Manchester City spokesperson

City's response is carefully worded. They do not deny the reports directly but instead emphasise that the process is incomplete and that they have respected due process for eight years. The reference to the February 2023 statement signals that their legal position has not shifted: they deny all charges.

The Premier League's silence is equally deliberate. By refusing to comment on a private and confidential process, the league avoids prejudicing any appeal. Sky Sports News understands the process is moving to the appeal stage, meaning a final resolution could still be months away.

The numbers

115 charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023
Nine-year period of alleged breaches, 2009–2018
Three Premier League titles won by Man City during the period in question
12-week hearing from September 16 to December 6, 2024
€30m fine and two-year European ban imposed by UEFA in February 2020
Ban lifted and fine reduced to €10m by CAS five months later
Der Spiegel published allegations in 2018, based on emails from hacker Rui Pinto

Background: how we got here

The alleged rule breaches first came to light in a series of articles published by Der Spiegel in Germany in 2018, based on emails obtained by convicted Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto. Those emails also appeared on the Football Leaks website. The story triggered a UEFA investigation into Manchester City in 2019, as well as a Premier League investigation.

In February 2020, City were found guilty of breaking UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules and given a two-year European ban and a €30m fine. But the ban was lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) five months later and the fine reduced to €10m. CAS said City showed "blatant disregard of UEFA's investigative process" but cleared them of "disguising equity funds as sponsorship contribution". The ruling stated that most of the alleged breaches "were either not established or time-barred", with UEFA statute only allowing prosecutions within a five-year period.

City said the CAS ruling was "validation of the club's position and the body of evidence that it was able to present". But the Premier League does not have a cut-off for investigating alleged breaches, which is why it has brought charges against the club going back to 2009. When the Premier League eventually charged City in February 2023, the club said they were "surprised" by the development and insisted their position was supported by a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence".

City's hearing in the case against the Premier League ran from September 16 to December 6, 2024. The 12-week hearing was held in front of a three-person independent commission at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London. The timeframe between the hearing and the judgment was always expected to take several months because of the volume of charges and the amount of information to be reviewed.

The charges in detail

Manchester City have been charged with breaking Financial Fair Play rules over a nine-year period, from 2009 to 2018. They have also been charged with failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations into their finances. When the Premier League charged City in 2023, its press release detailed alleged rules breaches that added up to 115 in number, but it is believed that the actual number is 130.

During the period in question, Man City won the Premier League three times. The Premier League's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are designed to ensure clubs pretty much spend what they earn. Clubs can get around those rules by inflating revenue or hiding spending. In the PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) and FFP era, artificially increasing revenue could, in theory, allow a club to spend more on transfers and wages.

According to the Premier League, Man City broke the rules over nine seasons by allegedly failing to provide accurate financial information. Among the charges against City are that they didn't fully disclose the financial remunerations that were made to one of their managers over a four-year period. The suggestion is that there was a secret contract so one of the managers was getting paid much more than officially stated. The Premier League also alleges Man City did not comply with UEFA's FFP rules over a five-year period.

What are the possible punishments?

If the commission rules against City, it can punish them in any way it sees fit. According to Premier League rules, the sanction could be a points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the Premier League. Anything is possible because the Premier League does not have set sanctions for financial rule breaches. Clubs decided not to have them because there were fears clubs would break the rules and take the punishment if they knew what that punishment was going to be.

In February 2025, Richard Masters said the Premier League was looking at having a 'sanctions grid' - setting out agreed sanctions for different rules breaches - but that is not yet in place. Everton were deducted six and then two points during the 2023/24 season for PSR breaches, while Nottingham Forest were deducted four points that same season. Further back, Luton Town - when in the EFL - were deducted 30 points in 2008/09 - 10 for illegal payments to agents and 20 for exiting administration without the required insolvency procedure of a Company Voluntary Arrangement. More recently in 2021/22, Derby County, also in the EFL, were deducted 21 points - 12 for administration and nine for financial irregularities.

Analysis: What an appeal means for City and the Premier League

The move to the appeal stage is significant. It suggests that the independent commission has reached decisions on at least some of the charges, and that City are prepared to challenge them. Because the process is confidential, we do not know the exact findings, but the reports indicate that most charges were found proven. If that is accurate, City face a fight to overturn what could be a severe sanction.

The appeal itself will likely hinge on legal arguments rather than fresh evidence. City's previous success at CAS in 2020, where most alleged breaches were found to be either not established or time-barred, will give them hope. However, the Premier League has no time-bar, so the CAS precedent may not apply in the same way. City's legal team will scrutinise the commission's reasoning on every charge, looking for procedural flaws or misinterpretations of the rules.

For the Premier League, the appeal prolongs a saga that has already lasted years. The league wants to be seen as a strong regulator, but it also faces pressure from clubs who want clarity. A points deduction or expulsion would reshape the title race and the league's future. Even a fine would be a landmark moment. The outcome will define how financial rules are enforced in English football for a generation.

Talking points

Should Manchester City face a points deduction or expulsion if most charges are upheld? The Premier League's own rules allow any sanction, so the commission has huge discretion.
Is the appeal process fair when the Premier League has no time-bar, unlike UEFA? City may argue that eight-year-old allegations are impossible to defend.
What does this mean for other clubs? Everton and Nottingham Forest were deducted points for PSR breaches, so consistency will be demanded.
How will City's players and staff handle the uncertainty? The club has continued to compete at the top despite the cloud hanging over them.

What happens next

The appeal process will now unfold, with no fixed timeline. Sky Sports News understands significant elements remain to be completed. The Premier League will not comment further. Manchester City's position remains as stated in February 2023: they deny all charges. The football world waits for the next official update, which could be weeks or months away. The stakes could not be higher: the integrity of the Premier League's financial rules and the future of its most successful club of the modern era are on the line.

Frequently asked questions

How many charges does Manchester City face?

Manchester City face 115 charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023, though it is believed the actual number is 130.

What punishments could Manchester City face?

Possible sanctions include a points deduction, a fine, or even expulsion from the Premier League, as the league has no fixed sanctions for financial rule breaches.

Are Manchester City guilty?

Reports claim most charges were found proven, but Manchester City deny all charges and the process is moving to the appeal stage. No final verdict has been confirmed.