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A verdict over Premier League charges against Manchester City is finally set to be delivered after a bombshell report said the club have been “found guilty on almost all of the charges”.
The Independent understands that the former champions have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018, in what would be a seminal moment for the richest football league in the world.
The landmark ruling, first reported by The Athletic, follows one of the most significant court cases in the history of sport, with the verdict also having major repercussions for City’s rivals. The Premier League have declined to comment, however.
City, currently top of the Premier League after five games, were charged with over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules in February 2023, with the club always denying any wrongdoing throughout the process.
An independent commission was appointed following a four-year investigation. Sanctions have not yet been decided, according to The Athletic, and City are expected to appeal. A club spokesperson said the Premier League process “remains ongoing”.
City have been England’s most successful team since the club’s fortunes were transformed by Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008. There are a wide range of punishments available to the top-flight’s authorities. Sanctions could include fines and/or points deductions, and even expulsion as a member of the Premier League.
Follow all the latest news, reaction and analysis to one of the most important moments in the Premier League’s history:
Can Man City appeal against verdict on Premier League’s charges?
City insist the process “remains ongoing” surrounding the charges relating to providing accurate financial information and failing to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) over a nine-year period, between 2009 and 2018.
Could Manchester City be expelled from the Premier League over financial breaches?
An independent commission is poised to announce the results of its four-year investigation into the case, according to The Athletic. No sanctions have yet been decided, but City are expected to appeal against the ruling.
What were Man City’s 115 Premier League charges?
Manchester City’s charges concerning breaking financial fair play rules surround a nine-year period, from 2009 to 2018.
They were also charged with failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations concerning the club’s finances.
Initially charged in 2023, the club was accused of:
- Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information (2009-2018): 54
- Failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation (2009-2018): 14
- Failure to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including Financial Fair Play Regulations: 5
- Breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability regulations (2015-2018): 7
- Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations (2018-2023): 35
What has Enzo Maresca said on Man City’s charges?
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola in the summer, said before the start of the season that he had “no concerns” over the Premier League charges.
Maresca was previously Guardiola’s assistant and was at the club in February 2023 when they were charged by the Premier League with breaking their financial rules.
“The only thing I can say is three years ago, the treble season, I was here, and it was the same words about this,” Maresca said in July.
“In three years, it’s still the same. Nothing has happened. I don’t have any concerns, personally.”
Maresca has won his first five games of the Premier League season after signing a three-year contract.
No sanctions have been announced and Man City are expected to appeal
Manchester City insist the process “remains ongoing”.
The Premier League have not yet announced sanctions, but City are expected to appeal the long-awaited verdict after they were found “guilty on almost all of the charges”.
Possible sanctions include fines, points deductions, and even expulsion from the Premier League.
Those sanctions could be applied now, or retrospectively. That could mean City are stripped of titles and trophies.
City insisted in February 2023 that they were “surprised” by the charges and said there was evidence to prove their innocence.
How did we get here?
The landmark ruling follows one of the most significant court cases in the history of sport. City were charged with over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
The Premier League said the alleged breaches took place between 2009 and 2018, and related to providing accurate financial information and failing to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Other charges included an accusation of failing to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation, which was prompted by the Football Leaks revelations.
City have been England’s most successful team since the club’s fortunes were transformed by Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008. The club won the Premier League three times between 2009 and 2018, a period in which the club also won one FA Cup and three League Cups.
Under former manager Pep Guardiola, City won the Premier League in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, including an unprecedented run of four in a row. In 2023, the club also won the Champions League for the first time, completing a historic ‘Treble’ of major prizes.
Man City ‘found guilty of almost all Premier League charges’
Yesterday The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that Manchester City “have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges”.
We still await confirmation of this from the Premier League with the verdict into the charges still to be officially revealed.
Such an overwhelming verdict would represent victory for the Premier League, who charged City in February 2023.
Why was verdict delayed?
The independent hearing into Man City’s charges concluded in December 2024, yet the nature of the case was described as “hugely complex,” leading to a lengthy delay in the verdict.
The timeframe between the start of the hearing and the judgement has stretched to almost three years.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters admitted to Sky Sports before the 2025/26 season that he had grown frustrated with the situation.
“It’s an independent judiciary essentially,” he said. “They are then in charge of the process and its timings. They hear the case, they decide the outcome and we have no influence over it or its timing.
“My frustration is irrelevant really, I just have to wait. Legal processes rarely take less time than you anticipated. But we have to be patient.”
Manchester City chairman releases statement after reports say club are guilty of breaching financial rules
Khaldoon Al Mubarak addressed supporters in a letter maintaining the club’s innocent despite reports claiming they will be found guilty of 114 charges against them.
Noel Gallagher reacts to Man City news
Oasis musician and big Man City fan Noel Gallagher has expressed his “shock” following yesterday’s news.
Speaking on the Let Me Talk podcast, the prominent City supporter called the decision “quite sad” for fans and squad members.
“A little surprised when I heard it on the radio,” he admitted. “Surprised because only that the club have assured us all along that they vehemently denied any of these charges.
“So it was a bit of a shock to find out that we’ve been found guilty of all but one. But really overall just quite sad really. Sad for the fans and for the players.”
