Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, reports David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Sanctions have not yet been decided, with every possible outcome still on the table, and City are expected to appeal the verdict.
A City spokesperson said the Premier League process “remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed,” and that the club’s position remains consistent with its original February 2023 statement, when it said it was “surprised” by the charges and welcomed independent scrutiny of what it called a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” in its favour.
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The case dates back to an investigation triggered by leaked financial documents published by German outlet Der Spiegel in November 2018, covering alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.
City were accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, misreporting payments to players and coaches, and breaching both the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules and UEFA’s financial fair play regulations, allegations the club has always denied.
Since the charges were first brought, City have added six major honours to a trophy cabinet built under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership since 2008, eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and a Champions League in total.
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UEFA separately banned the club from European competition for two years in 2020 over related allegations, though that punishment was overturned on appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which nonetheless fined City £8.8 million for what it called a “severe” failure to cooperate with its investigation.
Under Premier League rule W.51, potential sanctions range from a reprimand through to fines, points deductions, or even expulsion from the league, and any points penalty could theoretically be applied retroactively, raising questions over past title outcomes.
Legal experts have previously suggested panels are unlikely to strip already-awarded titles, preferring to apply sanctions going forward instead.
The verdict arrives at a pivotal moment for the club. Pep Guardiola departed as manager in the summer after a decade in charge, replaced by Enzo Maresca, under whom City have won all five of their opening league matches this season.
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The club also spent £450 million in the transfer window, including a British record-equalling £125 million deal for Enzo Fernández from Chelsea.
Photo: REUTERS/Molly Darlington
