Manchester City has been found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges of financial breaches by the Premier League. The club now awaits the decision on punishments, which could include relegation.
English football is experiencing a moment of unprecedented tension. Following a long and thorough process that has been dragging on since 2024, Manchester City has been found guilty of violating Financial Fair Play and economic sustainability rules set by the Premier League. The verdict, initially revealed by The Athletic, calls into question the hegemony built by the club over the past decade.
The independent commission’s decision points to irregularities in 114 of the 115 charges brought against the Citizens, covering the period between 2009 and 2018. The case, which originated after documents were leaked by the German newspaper Der Spiegel, is now expected to go through an appeals phase, while the future of the Manchester giant remains shrouded in uncertainty.
The history of financial conflicts
This is not the first time Manchester City‘s management has come under the scrutiny of sports authorities. In 2020, the club was banned from UEFA competitions for two years under similar allegations of irregularities. On that occasion, however, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the punishment, upholding only an administrative fine for a lack of cooperation. This time, the legal framework appears more rigorous, and a repeat of that outcome is a real concern for supporters.
Detailed charges and the club’s defense
The core of the investigation focuses on offenses committed under the management of the City Football Group. Among the most serious accusations are the concealment of contractual values—such as payments made to manager Roberto Mancini—and the use of inflated sponsorships, allegedly originating from the club’s owners in the United Arab Emirates.
In their official statements, Manchester City maintains its stance of innocence. In a statement, the club highlighted its historical cooperation with the investigations and criticized the course of the process.
— The club has diligently respected due process for eight years, proceeding on the assumption that the Premier League board and executive would act as an independent, impartial, and fair regulatory body, free from partisan influences — the club stated.
Potential punishments and impact on the future
With the conviction confirmed by the commission, Premier League regulations, specifically rule W.51, allow room for severe sanctions. Experts point out that the league could opt for heavy fines, points deductions—a practice recently used against Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester City—or even total expulsion from the championship. There is even the legal possibility of stripping titles won during the period of the offenses.
While the boardroom is in turmoil, the squad managed by Enzo Maresca is trying to focus on the pitch. With a 100% record this season and topping the table, Manchester City is preparing for a crucial clash against Liverpool at Anfield, scheduled for October 11, right after the international break. It is expected that, by then, new developments in the case will bring more clarity regarding the scale of the damage the club will face in the coming seasons.
By Equipe M360
