Man City 115 charges: independent tribunal reaches decisions as case moves to appeal stage
An independent tribunal has reached decisions in the Premier League's 115 charges case against Manchester City, and the process is now moving to the appeal stage, according to Sky Sports News. No official judgement has been released, and both parties must agree before any verdict is made public.
- What: Premier League's 115 charges against Manchester City
- Latest: Independent tribunal has reached decisions; process moving to appeal stage
- Verdict leak: Reports on Friday said City lost the majority of the charges, but no official confirmation
- Release: Both parties must agree before any judgement is published
- Next step: Appeal to be heard by a new three-person panel; no route to CAS
What was said
"Because it's a private and confidential process. I've heard people criticise the Premier League for not issuing a statement, but their hands are tied behind their back."
"What we got on Friday was a leak. It's been widely reported that Man City have lost the majority of the 115 charges they faced, but there has been no official confirmation that this is the case."
"I think the issue of the leak could be serious if City felt they were forced to take this all the way, for instance, to the High Court. They could argue that this process has not been fair and impartial because of what happened on Friday."
Solhekol's comments frame the central tension: the Premier League is bound by confidentiality rules, while Manchester City have been left responding to a leak rather than an official verdict. The league CEO Richard Masters has consistently said there is little he can say and that the process must play out.
The tribunal's decisions are not yet public, and the appeal route is clear. Under Premier League regulations, both sides can go to an appeal board after the independent tribunal's judgement, heard by a new three-person panel. There is no route to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, unlike City's previous appeal against UEFA.
The numbers
- 115: The number of charges Manchester City faced
- 3: The number of people on the new panel that would hear any appeal
- 1.45m: The alleged net annual salary for Roberto Mancini as City manager, per Der Spiegel's 2018 report
- 1.75m: The alleged annual value of a second contract to coach four days a year at Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi
The leak, the appeal and the legal threat
The most pressing issue is the leak. Solhekol believes it could be serious if City felt forced to take the matter to the High Court, arguing the process was not fair and impartial. City have raised similar concerns before, including in their case against UEFA when they cited leaks to the media.
Many respected sports lawyers are refusing to comment because they have not seen the judgement, which is expected to run to hundreds of pages. Until that document is digested, definitive legal analysis is impossible. The appeal board, if reached, would be a fresh three-person panel — effectively the end of the road within the Premier League's rules, barring a High Court challenge on procedural grounds.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak penned an open letter to the club's fans over the weekend, responding to reports around the case. That intervention underlines how seriously City are treating the situation and how much pressure the club feels to address supporters directly.
Could other clubs sue if the charges are proven?
Solhekol describes this as the realm of hypotheticals, but accepts that if charges are proven, clubs are likely to be contacted by lawyers seeking to represent them in compensation claims. Clubs have sued other clubs for compensation before, so the possibility exists.
However, the Premier League is made up of 20 clubs, and those members must consider the league as a whole. The appetite for legal action against Manchester City remains uncertain and would only become clear if the possibility arises in the future.
What Roberto Mancini said on Sunday
The former City boss addressed an allegation published by German outlet Der Spiegel in 2018. The documents claimed that when Mancini was City manager, he had two contracts: one paying £1.45m net to manage the club, and another worth £1.75m a year to coach four days a year in Abu Dhabi at Al Jazira.
Manchester City have always said these emails were taken out of context and form part of a wider effort to discredit the club. Mancini's own comments on Sunday were that City are not guilty and that the double contract was not his problem.
Why the appeal stage matters more than the leak
The headline may be the leaked verdict, but the appeal is where the case could be decided. Manchester City have no route to CAS, so their only external option is the High Court. That makes the fairness of the process — and the leak — central to any challenge.
The appeal board would be a new three-person panel, meaning the original tribunal's findings will be tested afresh by different decision-makers. If City believe the process has been compromised, the High Court route becomes a live strategic option rather than a theoretical one. The club's chairman has already gone public, which signals a willingness to fight the narrative as well as the legal case.
For the Premier League, the priority is protecting the confidentiality of a process that is now under intense scrutiny. Richard Masters has given nothing away, and that will not change until both parties agree to release the judgement. Until then, every report is a leak, not a verdict.
Talking points
- Is the leak serious enough for City to pursue a High Court challenge, or is that a negotiating position?
- Should the Premier League break its confidentiality rules to calm the speculation, or does that set a dangerous precedent?
- If the charges are proven, will rival clubs actually sue for compensation, or will self-interest keep them quiet?
- Does the absence of a CAS route make the Premier League's appeal process less credible than UEFA's was?
What happens next
Both parties must agree before the independent tribunal's judgement is released, and no date has been set. Once published, the appeal would go to a new three-person panel. City could then consider the High Court if they believe the process was unfair. Until the judgement appears, the case could still run for years.
Frequently asked questions
Has Manchester City lost the 115 charges case?
No official judgement has been released. Reports on Friday said City lost the majority of the charges, but that was a leak and there has been no official confirmation.
When will the Premier League release the Man City judgement?
There is no definitive date. Both the Premier League and Manchester City must agree before any judgement is released, so the timing remains uncertain.
Can Manchester City appeal to CAS like they did against UEFA?
No. Premier League regulations do not include the Court of Arbitration for Sport. After the independent tribunal, both sides can go to an appeal board heard by a new three-person panel. A High Court challenge is possible only on serious procedural grounds.
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