Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges brought by the Premier League for alleged breaches of financial rules, a dramatic twist in one of English football’s most enduring financial sagas.
Reports citing The Athletic suggest an independent commission has found City guilty on all but one charge after a marathon investigation and hearing. Yet, the Premier League remains silent on the verdict, and the full judgment is still under wraps.
The charges cover alleged breaches from 2009 to 2018. They include claims of inaccurate financial information, payments to players and managers, breaches of financial rules, and cooperation with the Premier League’s investigation.
City have always denied any wrongdoing and say they have evidence to support their case. The club is expected to appeal the reported findings.
No sanctions have been decided yet, so City’s position in the Premier League has not changed for now.
The case began after German magazine Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents in 2018. After years of investigation, the Premier League charged City in February 2023 and sent the case to an independent commission.
A closed-door hearing took place between September and December 2024. Afterward, the independent panel started reviewing the evidence from both sides.
City have also faced UEFA disciplinary action in a separate investigation into the leaked documents. In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned their two-year ban from European competition, but City were fined for failing to cooperate with UEFA’s investigation.
The Premier League’s case is separate from the UEFA investigation.
Even with the ongoing uncertainty, City have kept competing at a high level and are currently top of the Premier League after five matches in the 2026/27 season.
The focus now shifts to the next steps, which include possible sanctions and any appeals.
Since the proceedings are still ongoing, the reported verdict is a major development but not the end of a case that has been one of the biggest regulatory issues in Premier League football.
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