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Manchester City has been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against the club by the Premier League, according to reports, in a verdict that caps a case stretching back more than two years and covering nearly a decade of the club’s finances.
The case, based on the Premier League’s belief that City consistently broke the league’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018, was decided by an independent commission. Among the specific allegations: that City inflated sponsorship revenue to stay compliant with Financial Fair Play rules, and paid former manager Roberto Mancini a second, secret salary on top of his declared pay.
City has strenuously denied wrongdoing since the charges were first announced in February 2023, and the club is expected to appeal the verdict. In a statement, a club source 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 the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
No sanctions have been decided yet. The independent panel now faces a separate process to determine punishment, with City facing a range of possible outcomes that includes a fine, a points deduction applied retroactively across past seasons, or, in the most severe scenario, expulsion from the league.
The verdict lands as one of the most consequential rulings in Premier League history, given City’s dominance on the pitch over the period under scrutiny, a run that included multiple league titles and City’s first Champions League triumph. Whatever sanction is eventually handed down, City’s ability to appeal means a final resolution is still likely months away.
