Man City found guilty on most of 115 Premier League financial charges — verdict reached

Manchester City have been found guilty on almost all of the 115 charges relating to Premier League financial rules, sources have told BBC Sport. A judgement has been reached after a four-year investigation and a hearing that began on 16 September 2024. Sanctions are yet to be decided.

  • What: Manchester City found guilty on the majority of 115 Premier League financial rule breaches, per sources
  • When: Hearing started 16 September 2024; verdict reached September 2026
  • Charges: 54 failure to provide accurate financial info; 14 inaccurate player/manager payments; 5 Uefa FFP breaches; 7 PSR breaches; 35 failure to co-operate
  • Possible sanctions: Points deduction (immediate or suspended), financial penalty, or removal from Premier League
  • Next: Appeal expected; City cannot take case to Court of Arbitration for Sport

What are the 115 charges?

In February 2023, City were charged and referred to an independent commission over alleged breaches said to have taken place between 2009 and 2018. The charges relate to Premier League financial rules and break down as follows:

  • 54 x failure to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
  • 14 x failure to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
  • 5 x failure to comply with Uefa's rules including financial fair play (FFP) from 2013-14 to 2017-18.
  • 7 x breaching Premier League profit and sustainability (PSR) rules from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
  • 35 x failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.

City have always denied wrongdoing and BBC Sport has been told they would appeal were they found guilty.

What has been the timeline of the case?

  • November 2018: Football Leaks allegations emerge with Der Spiegel publishing claims Manchester City breached financial fair play rules.
  • March 2019: Uefa launches a formal investigation off the back of Der Spiegel's findings.
  • May 2019: City criticise the investigation and launch an appeal process.
  • November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) deems City's appeal inadmissible.
  • February 2020: Uefa announces a two-year ban for City from European competitions and a €30m fine.
  • July 2020: City's European ban is overturned after an appeal to Cas.
  • July 2021: City lose a jurisdiction ruling that allows the media to report the Premier League is continuing to investigate the champions for alleged financial breaches.
  • April 2022: Der Spiegel publishes a fresh report claiming the Premier League has been investigating the club for three years, providing detailed claims.
  • February 2023: The Premier League charges City with 115 financial breaches.
  • September 2024: The start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and City on the 115 charges.
  • February 2025: City manager Pep Guardiola says the club expect to learn the verdict "within one month". Guardiola left the Etihad at the end of last season.
  • September 2026: Reports emerge that a verdict has been reached, with sources telling the BBC that City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the charges.

What punishment could Man City face?

It was never expected the verdict would come complete with the sanctions. We now face a waiting game for even that verdict to officially be made public by the independent panel.

We don't know who was on the panel that heard and ruled on the case, and that will only come once a written judgment is released. All options are open to the disciplinary commission:

  • Points deduction (immediate or suspended).
  • Financial penalties (immediate or suspended).
  • Removal from the Premier League.

Being removed from the Premier League would mean City lose their membership and are demoted to a lower division from the end of the season. That could also happen through a points penalty so severe they would effectively be relegated.

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. 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 statement

City's statement shows clear frustration that news of the verdict leaked before the panel released its written judgment. The club continue to insist the process is incomplete and that significant elements remain outstanding. The Premier League declined to comment on the case when approached on Friday.

City's position has not shifted from February 2023, when the charges were first brought. They maintain their innocence and have repeatedly pointed to what they describe as a fair and impartial regulator.

Will there be an appeal and how long would one take?

An appeal from City is expected to be a formality. City's legal team is being led by Lord Pannick KC, who is reported to charge £5,000 an hour for his services. He helped City overturn their two-year European ban in 2020.

However, considering we are already eight years into this process — and two years beyond the start of the hearing itself — it is impossible to speculate when this could come to an end. Until now, the case has been watertight, with no media leaks from any of the parties involved. This is just the latest chapter.

While the commission's judgement can be directly appealed against, it is not possible for City to take it to Cas.

What titles did City win and who was affected?

City won the Premier League three times during the period in question. That includes their first in the Premier League era in 2011-12, plus 2013-14 and 2017-18. They won the FA Cup in 2011, and the EFL Cup three times — 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18. Since their 2008 takeover by ADUG, City have won eight league titles, and multiple cups including the Champions League as part of a Treble in 2023.

If the commission chooses to hand City's titles to other clubs, this is who could benefit:

Could affected clubs claim compensation from City?

Earlier this year, Everton were told they must pay Burnley £35m over the impact of a breach of the Premier League's financial rules. The case — heard by a Premier League commission — relates to the 2021-22 season, when Everton were found to have broken PSR regulations over a three-year period. Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated.

Analysis: Why this verdict changes everything — and nothing yet

The finding that City have been found guilty on the majority of charges is a seismic moment for the Premier League, but the lack of immediate sanctions means the competitive landscape remains frozen. Pep Guardiola has already left the Etihad, so the on-field decision-making now falls to his successor. The panel's choice between a points deduction and outright removal from the Premier League will define the next decade of English football.

The charges span 2009 to 2018, covering three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three EFL Cups. If the commission decides to strip those honours, Manchester United would be the biggest beneficiary with two league titles, while Liverpool would gain one league title and one EFL Cup. Arsenal, Stoke City and Sunderland would also be in line for upgraded honours. The precedent set by the Everton-Burnley compensation case means affected clubs could pursue financial claims.

City's immediate focus will be on damage limitation. An appeal led by Lord Pannick KC is expected, but the fact that Cas is unavailable removes one potential route to overturning the decision. The independent panel's written judgment will be the next document that matters, and it will reveal the identities of the panel members and the full reasoning behind the verdict.

Talking points

  • Should City be stripped of their 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18 Premier League titles, or is a points deduction a fairer punishment that affects only the current squad?
  • If City are relegated, does that devalue the Premier League brand for broadcasters, or does it restore trust in the competition's financial rules?
  • The Everton-Burnley compensation case sets a precedent. Should every club that finished behind City between 2009 and 2018 now launch a claim?
  • City cannot appeal to Cas, so is the independent panel the final word, or will the English courts become involved?

What happens next

The independent panel must now publish its written judgment, which will confirm the verdict and the identities of the panel members. Once the judgment is public, the Premier League and City will respond formally. City's appeal, expected to be led by Lord Pannick KC, will then begin. The most immediate decision for the commission is the sanction: points deduction, financial penalty, or removal from the Premier League. That decision will determine City's top-flight status for next season and could reshape the title race, European qualification and the transfer market.

Frequently asked questions

Has Manchester City been found guilty of the 115 charges?

Sources have told BBC Sport that City have been found guilty on the majority of the 115 charges. The club have not commented on the specifics of the verdict, stating that the process remains ongoing.

Can Manchester City appeal the verdict?

Yes, an appeal is expected to be a formality. City's legal team is being led by Lord Pannick KC, who helped overturn their European ban in 2020. However, City cannot take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Could Manchester City be relegated or stripped of their titles?

All options are open to the disciplinary commission, including a points deduction, financial penalties, or removal from the Premier League. If City are removed, they would be demoted to a lower division from the end of the season. Stripping titles has not been ruled out, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Stoke City and Sunderland potentially benefiting.

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