Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules
An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. City have confirmed they will appeal, with a deadline of Friday October 2. A separate hearing will decide sanctions, which could include fines or points deductions applied this season.
- Verdict: Guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules
- Appeal deadline: Friday October 2
- Appeal body: A new three-person commission, permitted under section W of the Premier League rules
- Sanctions hearing: Separate hearing with the independent commission; private and confidential until publication permitted
- Potential punishments: Fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions β could be applied this season
- What's next: City cannot appeal to CAS but could go to the High Court
What was said
"Manchester City is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission that has been published today."
"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case."
"The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums."
"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted."
"Manchester City will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
"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 club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."
"In 2014, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said he would rather spend Β£30m on the best 50 lawyers in the world and sue UEFA for the next 10 years than agree a financial penalty for alleged financial fair play breaches."
City's response is uncompromising. They insist they are innocent, describe the opinion as containing material errors of law, principle and fact, and label it unsafe. The club claim a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence supports their position.
They also highlight that they have respected due process for eight years and will now pursue every appeal avenue. The reference to the Premier League commission in their statement, rather than the independent commission, was clarified by Sky Sports. City are restricted in what they can say until all future proceedings are complete.
The numbers
- Β£30m β the sum Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in 2014 he would rather spend on the best 50 lawyers in the world than agree a financial penalty for alleged financial fair play breaches.
- 8 years β the period over which City say they have diligently respected due process.
- 3 β the number of people on the new commission that would hear any appeal.
- Friday October 2 β the deadline for City to lodge their appeal.
Why City's appeal faces a difficult path β and why sanctions could still land this season
City have confirmed they will appeal, but the mechanics of that appeal are narrow. It will be heard by a new three-person commission under section W of the Premier League rules. City cannot take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Their only external route would be the High Court, arguing the process was not fair and impartial. That is a high bar and would extend the saga further.
More importantly, the appeal does not freeze the sanctions process. A separate hearing will determine punishment, with the Premier League putting forward what they think the punishment should be and City arguing their case. The commission will then decide. Sky Sports reports that, reading between the lines, the Premier League wants this concluded this season. The hearing is private and confidential until publication is permitted, so the exact punishment will not be known imminently.
The range of sanctions available is broad: fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions, which could be applied this season. There are no set sanctions for financial rule breaches because clubs decided against them, fearing clubs would break the rules and simply accept a known punishment. In February 2025, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the league was looking at introducing a sanctions grid. For context, Everton were deducted six points on appeal in 2023/24 and then two points for profit and sustainability rules breaches. Nottingham Forest were deducted four points the same season. Luton were deducted 30 points in 2008/09 (10 for illegal payments to agents, 20 for exiting administration without a Company Voluntary Arrangement). Derby were deducted 21 points in 2021/22 (12 for entering administration, nine for financial irregularities).
Beyond the commission, there is the prospect of further legal action. Clubs could take action against City over missing out on trophies and Champions League qualification. That opens a second front and raises the stakes for everyone involved.
Talking points
- City's claim that the opinion is "unsafe" sets up a direct challenge to the commission's reasoning, but with CAS unavailable they must convince a new three-person panel or the High Court β a much tougher ask.
- The Premier League's desire to conclude this season means a points deduction could land during the current campaign, potentially reshaping the title race or European qualification on the pitch.
- City's eight-year insistence that they respected due process will be tested by the appeal; if they lose, the reputational and competitive cost rises sharply.
- The absence of a sanctions grid means the punishment is unpredictable, which is exactly why clubs avoided fixed penalties β and why this hearing matters so much.
What happens next
Manchester City have until Friday October 2 to formally appeal. A new three-person commission will then hear that appeal. In parallel, a separate private sanctions hearing will determine the punishment, with fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions all possible this season. City cannot go to CAS but could turn to the High Court, and other clubs could yet launch their own legal action over lost trophies and Champions League qualification. The Premier League wants the matter concluded this season.
Frequently asked questions
What has Manchester City been found guilty of?
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules.
When is Manchester City's appeal deadline?
Manchester City have confirmed they will appeal and have until Friday October 2 to do so.
Can Manchester City appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport?
No. City cannot appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but they could go to the High Court and argue that the process has not been fair and impartial.
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