Manchester City are at the centre of the biggest legal storm in English football after reports that an independent commission found them guilty of 114
Manchester City are at the centre of the biggest legal storm in English football after reports that an independent commission found them guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League. Here is what you need to know.
How it started
The Premier League announced the charges in February 2023, after a four-year investigation, and the case was then referred to an independent commission. The alleged breaches cover the period from 2009 to 2018, and a further 35 charges relate to a failure to cooperate with league investigators between 2018 and 2023.
What City were charged with
This was not a single offence repeated 115 times. The case is a collection of charges covering different rules, seasons and financial obligations. They include failing to provide accurate financial information, failing to fully disclose player and manager pay, breaching UEFA and Premier League financial rules, and failing to cooperate with the investigation. Five charges relate to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, seven to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, and 35 to non-cooperation.
The hearing
A three-person independent commission heard the case over 12 weeks at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London. The hearing ran from September to December 2024. The verdict took nearly two years to emerge.
The reported verdict
The Athletic first reported on Friday, 25 September 2026, that City had been found guilty of all but one of the charges. The Premier League declined to comment to Reuters. City did not deny the reports. Its statement said the Premier League process was ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. The full findings have not yet been published.
What punishment could follow
No sanctions have been decided. The league’s handbook allows a points deduction, an unlimited fine or even expulsion. The commission has wide discretion rather than a fixed punishment for financial breaches. Expulsion is not expected, because it would need a majority vote of the other clubs.
City’s position and the road ahead
City have consistently denied any wrongdoing and are expected to appeal. Sky Sports understands the process is moving to the appeal stage.
City have won an appeal before. In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year UEFA ban on the club and cut the accompanying fine. That case shows how much a punishment can change once an appeal is heard. Analysts also warn against using other clubs’ cases as a guide. Sports finance expert Dan Plumley said the points deductions given to Everton and Nottingham Forest should not be treated as a benchmark for City.
Not to be confused with
The 115-charge case is separate from City’s legal challenge to the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction rules, which govern commercial deals involving parties linked to club owners.
Why it matters
City have dominated English football since their 2008 takeover, so any upheld charges will cast a shadow over that success. A final ruling on the sanctions could still be months away, and the appeal could change the outcome.
COMMENTS