Manchester City found guilty on all serious Premier League financial charges as sanctions loom and appeal deadline set for Friday
An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of all serious Premier League financial charges. The club denies wrongdoing, chief executive Ferran Soriano has called the process a "Premier League conspiracy theory", and City have confirmed they will appeal, with a deadline of Friday to do so. A separate sanctions hearing will follow.
- Verdict: Manchester City found guilty of all serious Premier League financial charges by an independent commission
- Possible sanctions: Points deduction, fine, transfer ban, other sporting sanctions, expulsion, or a combination
- Expulsion vote: Three-quarters of Premier League clubs (15) would need to vote in favour for expulsion to happen
- Appeal deadline: Friday (Sky Sports reports Friday October 2)
- If expelled: EFL rules mean a return at League Two unless member clubs vote otherwise
- Further litigation: Clubs are working with top barristers, but no claim has been filed
What was said
"If you look at the Premier League's own handbook, it says that the commission has the right to punish the club with a points deduction, a fine, a transfer ban, other sporting sanctions, and expulsion from the Premier League. It could be a combination of any of those."
"There will be a further hearing with the independent commission to address the issue of sanctions, where the Premier League will put forward what they think the punishment should be and Manchester City will argue their case. Then, the commission will go away and decide what the punishment should be. We are not going to find out what the punishment is anytime soon."
"I sense, reading between the lines, that the Premier League wants this concluded this season. Any points deductions can be applied this season."
"The Premier League is saying that Manchester City have the right to appeal the commission's filings and they have until Friday October 2 to exercise that right. When it comes to an appeal, you can't just say 'I'm angry, I'm going to appeal.' You have to have strong legal grounds."
"It is understood that clubs have instructed some of the top barristers in the UK to assess what legal options are potentially at their disposal, following the independent commission's verdict. No litigation has been filed yet, with sources telling Sky Sports News that clubs will wait for the outcome of the appeals process."
"If City are to end up playing in the Championship, the only way they can get there is if they're given a very large points deduction, which means they are relegated on the field, if you like. If they're expelled from the Premier League, they're no longer a Premier League club. The independent panel cannot recommend what level they would rejoin the football pyramid at."
"It's written into the EFL laws that any club that wants to rejoin the EFL, which is a separate body from the Premier League, has to rejoin at League Two, unless there's a vote by the member clubs, because the EFL, like the Premier League, represents the member clubs. The clubs would have to have a vote on where they wanted Manchester City to rejoin the football pyramid. Would those clubs want them to rejoin in the Championship? Can you imagine the Championship clubs wanting Manchester City to be in there with them, with all of their power?"
"You have to remember as well that it causes problems for the numbers. If they were reintegrated at the Championship level, well, there would be 25 teams in the Championship. That wouldn't work. What would it mean for relegation going forward as well? It's very, very complicated."
"It is understood that any decision to expel Manchester City from the Premier League would need to be ratified with a vote by all other current Premier League clubs. If enough clubs voted for City to remain in the Premier League, they would not go on to be expelled. Premier League rules say that three-quarters of the clubs (15) would need to vote in favour of expulsion for that to happen."
"Other sanctioning possibilities include a fine, points deduction, transfer embargo, or forced replaying of matches (incredibly unlikely), and the commission could in due course order a combination of penalties. Other punishments, such as fines and points deductions, would not need to go to a Premier League vote."
"The Premier League statement is really damning, with some really extreme language and this is where it gets really damaging for Man City as the commission says they found some witnesses gave false evidence and that when they did the accounts, they were overspending both the Premier League and UEFA's limits. And all in all, with the findings so heavily against Man City, it has sent shockwaves through football. It is incredibly damaging and you can understand why everyone in football is looking at this as such a huge moment not just for Man City, but in the history of the Premier League."
"City are clearly really hurt, but they have been working on their defence since the article in Der Spiegel in 2018 and it is clear in Ferran Soriano's words that he thinks the panel has glossed over the Man City evidence, which he says is irrefutable. But the panel did look at their evidence and said that parts of Man City's case was dishonest, which is incredibly damaging."
"Several Manchester City sponsors are standing by the club in the wake of the guilty verdict. Lucozade, Kellogg's and Revolut have all told Sky Sports News they are not commenting on the independent commission's findings while the process remains ongoing."
The quotes point to a process that can be shaped by legal argument and, potentially, by a vote of Manchester City's own rivals. Soriano's language is deliberately confrontational; the commission's finding that parts of City's case were dishonest raises the legal bar for any appeal.
For the rest of the Premier League, the most immediate variable is whether any points deduction lands this season. Sky Sports reports that the Premier League wants the matter concluded this season and that points deductions can be applied this season.
The numbers
- 15 — Premier League clubs that would need to vote in favour of expulsion (three-quarters of the 20)
- 25 — number of teams the Championship would have if Manchester City were reinstated at that level, which Dorsett says would not work
- League Two — level at which any club rejoining the EFL must enter unless member clubs vote otherwise
- 2018 — year of the Der Spiegel article that prompted Manchester City to start preparing their defence
- Friday October 2 — reported deadline for Manchester City to appeal
The vote that decides Manchester City's Premier League future
The most striking detail is that expulsion would need 15 of the other 19 clubs to vote for it. That gives Manchester City's rivals direct control over the harshest sanction. Kaveh Solhekol and Rob Dorsett report that any decision to expel City would need ratification by all other current Premier League clubs. Expulsion does not happen simply because a commission recommends it.
That mechanism also creates an awkward dynamic for clubs who might pursue separate legal action. Amar Mehta reports that clubs and their barristers are waiting for the appeals outcome before filing anything. A club that sues City while simultaneously voting on whether to expel them is in a very public position, and the voting threshold means the outcome could hinge on clubs with a direct competitive interest in City's fate.
The EFL route adds another layer. Rob Dorsett explains that any club rejoining the EFL must enter at League Two unless member clubs vote otherwise — the independent panel cannot specify a re-entry level. That means the Championship clubs themselves would have to choose whether to accept City into a division that would then run with 25 teams.
Talking points
- If the Premier League wants the matter concluded this season, a points deduction applied now could seriously damage City's title hopes while the appeal is still running.
- The 15-vote expulsion threshold makes City's rivals both judges and potential litigants. That combination looks difficult to manage if clubs file separate claims.
- League Two re-entry would be unprecedented for a club of this size. The EFL vote on re-entry level might be more contentious than the sanction itself.
- Soriano calling the process a "Premier League conspiracy theory" sets a combative tone. But the commission's finding that some witnesses gave false evidence narrows City's appeal grounds considerably.
What happens next
Manchester City have until Friday (Sky Sports reports Friday October 2) to lodge an appeal. A further hearing with the independent commission will then address sanctions, where the Premier League argues for its punishment and City respond. A points deduction can be applied this season if the commission decides. If expulsion is on the table, it would require 15 of the other 19 clubs to vote in favour. Clubs pursuing separate litigation are waiting for the appeals outcome first. City's sponsors Lucozade, Kellogg's and Revolut have declined to comment while the process continues.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Manchester City have to appeal the guilty verdict?
Sky Sports reports that City have until Friday, stated as Friday October 2, to exercise their right to appeal. Kaveh Solhekol notes that an appeal requires strong legal grounds, not simply dissatisfaction.
Could Manchester City be expelled from the Premier League?
Yes, expulsion is one option. It would require three-quarters of the other current Premier League clubs — 15 — to vote in favour. Other punishments such as fines and points deductions would not need a Premier League vote.
If Manchester City are expelled, where would they rejoin the football pyramid?
EFL rules state that any club rejoining the EFL must enter at League Two unless member clubs vote otherwise. The independent panel cannot recommend a re-entry level. A Championship re-entry would create a 25-team division.
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