Premier League side, Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial rule breaches brought against the club by the Premier League, according to reports from The Athletic and The Times.
The verdict, delivered by an independent commission, marks a major development in a case that has hung over the English champions since the Premier League formally charged them in February 2023.
The charges relate to alleged financial and regulatory breaches spanning several seasons, dating back to the 2009-10 campaign. City have consistently denied wrongdoing.
Reports indicate that the commission rejected only one of the 115 charges, with the remaining 114 upheld. The club is expected to appeal the findings.
The Premier League has reportedly informed other clubs of the outcome, although the process is not yet complete. Manchester City have also issued a statement indicating that the Premier League proceedings remain ongoing.
The scale of the case is unprecedented in English football. The charges include allegations relating to the provision of accurate financial information, sponsorship and revenue reporting, payments and contractual matters, as well as alleged failures to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.
The hearing before the independent commission began in September 2024 and lasted several weeks. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said last month that the verdict had taken longer than initially expected, describing the case as exceptionally complex.
City’s position throughout the proceedings has been that the allegations are unfounded, and the club has previously maintained that it possesses evidence to support its defence.
The verdict does not, by itself, determine Manchester City’s punishment. Any sanctions will have to be established through the Premier League’s disciplinary process and could potentially include sporting or financial penalties. City are expected to challenge the findings through the available appeal process.
The possible consequences have therefore become the next major question surrounding the case, although no final punishment has yet been announced.
The charges have their roots in a Premier League investigation that followed allegations concerning City’s financial affairs. The club was formally referred to an independent commission in 2023 after the league said it had identified more than 100 alleged breaches.
The case has attracted considerable attention across English football because of its potential implications for Manchester City, the Premier League and the competitive record of previous seasons.
For now, however, the confirmed development is the commission’s finding on the alleged breaches. The eventual sanctions and the outcome of any appeal remain to be determined.
