Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, according to reports on Friday, September 25.

The verdict follows a long-running case covering the period between 2009 and 2018. City were charged by the Premier League in 2023 and have consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The case was heard by an independent commission, which completed a 12-week hearing in December 2024. The commission has now reportedly reached its verdict, but the sanctions have not yet been decided.

What were Manchester City charged with?

The Premier League's case covered several areas of the club's finances and its conduct during the investigation.

The main allegations included:

  • Financial information: City were accused of failing to provide accurate and complete financial information to the Premier League over several seasons.
  • Manager payments: The charges included allegations that the club did not fully disclose the financial details of payments made to one of its managers.
  • UEFA financial rules: City were also charged with alleged breaches of UEFA's financial regulations.
  • Cooperation with the investigation: The club faced further charges over its alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation.

The independent commission has reportedly found City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges. The Premier League and Manchester City have not publicly released the full details of the commission's findings.

What punishment could Manchester City face?

There is no final punishment yet.

Under Premier League rules, an independent commission has a wide range of sanctions available. They can include:

  • Points deduction — City could be docked Premier League points.
  • A financial penalty — The club could be ordered to pay a fine.
  • Player registration restrictions — Restrictions could potentially be placed on the registration of players.
  • Suspension from matches — A club can be suspended from playing league matches.
  • Expulsion from the Premier League — The commission can recommend that a club be expelled from the competition.

There is no fixed punishment for this type of case. The final sanction will depend on the commission's decision and the individual breaches it has found proven.

What happens next?

The next stage is the sanctions process, followed by a possible appeal.

Manchester City are expected to challenge the verdict. Under the Premier League's process, an appeal would be heard by a new three-person commission.

That means Friday's verdict is not necessarily the end of the case. The final outcome, including any punishment, will depend on the next stages of the process.

Manchester City have maintained their denial of the charges throughout the case. The club now faces a major decision over how to respond to the commission's findings.

For now, the headline figure is 114 guilty findings from 115 charges. The next question is what sanction, if any, will follow — and whether Manchester City's expected appeal will change the outcome.