Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against the club by the Premier League, according to a report by The Athletic on Friday. The independent commission has reached its liability decision after examining allegations covering several seasons, although the case is not yet completely finished. The sanctions to be imposed on City have not been determined, while the club is expected to appeal the verdict. The report is based on sources briefed on the outcome who were not authorised to speak publicly about the confidential proceedings. Manchester City have also indicated that the Premier League process remains ongoing.
City charged after lengthy investigation
The Premier League referred Manchester City to an independent commission in February 2023 following an investigation into alleged financial and regulatory breaches. The league’s original statement listed 115 charges. They included allegations that City failed to provide accurate financial information, failed to provide complete details concerning player and manager remuneration, breached UEFA and Premier League financial regulations, and did not cooperate fully with the Premier League’s investigation.
The allegations cover the period from the 2009-10 season through 2017-18 for the main financial matters, while the alleged failure to cooperate with the investigation continued into the period leading up to the Premier League’s charges. City have consistently denied the allegations and previously said they possessed evidence supporting their position.
Verdict comes after two-year wait
The independent commission’s hearing began in September 2024 and concluded in December of that year. Despite the conclusion of the evidence phase, the decision remained unpublished for almost two years. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters acknowledged in August that the verdict had taken longer than expected, but said the league had to allow the independent process to continue.
That lengthy wait has now produced a significant development, with The Athletic reporting that City were found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges. The exact reasoning behind each individual finding has not yet been made public, meaning it is not possible to determine from the currently available information which single charge was not proven.
Punishment has not been decided
The reported verdict does not mean Manchester City have already been handed a sporting punishment. The sanctions stage remains outstanding, and the possible consequences will depend on the commission’s findings and the applicable Premier League rules. Previous reporting has identified a wide range of potential sanctions, including financial penalties and sporting measures, although no specific punishment has been announced at this stage.
City are also expected to challenge the outcome through the available appeal process. For now, the club remains an active Premier League side and recently moved to the top of the table after a 5-3 victory over Sunderland. Enzo Maresca’s team had taken 15 points from their opening five league matches. The next major development will therefore be the publication of the commission’s detailed decision and the subsequent determination of sanctions. Until those stages are completed, the long-running Manchester City case remains unresolved despite the reported liability findings.
