Man City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League, first reported by The Athletic. Neither the Premier League nor the commission has officially issued the ruling, so the verdict has yet to be officially confirmed.
What charges were Man City facing?
The league referred City to an independent commission in February 2023 after an investigation lasting several years. The charges break down into 80 alleged breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018, plus 35 counts of failing to cooperate with the league’s investigation. A three-person commission finished hearing the case in December 2024, which means the wait for a verdict is now close to two years.
What’s next for the Premier League and Man City?
No sanctions have been announced, and the Premier League have declined to comment. City are reported to intend to appeal, which will likely be lengthy, so the potential consequences on the pitch are not immediate.
The potential punishments vary widely, from fines to point deductions, and can theoretically include expulsion from the Premier League. Everton’s profitability breach led to a 10-point deduction, cut to six on appeal, and Nottingham Forest received a four-point deduction. City’s case is far larger, so comparisons can only go so far.
City’s response to the charges
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak wrote to supporters saying the process still has a long way to run and that the club’s confidence in proving its innocence is undiminished.
“I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.
Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.
There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.
I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true.
While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.
We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.”
As things stand
Any appeal would likely take considerable time. Until the commission’s written reasons and sanctions are made public, what is known comes largely from leaks and from the club’s own carefully worded statements. Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout.
