Manchester City found guilty of most of 115 financial charges
An independent panel has found Manchester City guilty of the majority of 115 Premier League financial rule breaches dating back to 2009, and the club says it will appeal. The case could lead to a points deduction, a fine or expulsion.
What happened
According to BBC Sport sources, an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of "the majority" of the 115 charges over breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. Australian outlet SMH.com.au, citing Bloomberg and Reuters, reports the club was found guilty of "nearly all" 115 charges, while the Guardian states City was cleared of only one charge, with the remaining 114 upheld. The exact figure varies between sources, but all agree the vast majority of charges were proven.
The Premier League filed the charges against Manchester City in February 2023. The hearing opened on 16 September 2024 and ran for almost three months, concluding on 6 December 2024. The allegations include supplying inaccurate financial information and receiving inflated sponsorship income from companies linked to the club's owners, covering every season from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
Club's response
In a statement, Manchester City said the Premier League process "remains ongoing" and confidential, adding that for eight years the club has "diligently respected due process," expecting the league's board to act as an independent and impartial regulator. According to SMH, the club intends to appeal the ruling. The Premier League declined to comment.
Possible sanctions
The case now moves to a sanction hearing to determine punishment, which could range from a points deduction and a fine to, in theory, expulsion from the league. Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to the club, told the BBC that the expected 500-to-700-page ruling will contain damning findings about witnesses and the club's conduct, and that City will enter the sanction hearing "with the worst possible set of circumstances." Lawyer Simon Leaf called the verdict "a damning indictment that goes to the very heart of the club."
For comparison, Everton were docked eight points in total for breaching profitability rules in a single season (an initial 10-point deduction reduced to six on appeal, plus two more for a second breach), while Nottingham Forest lost four points. Manchester City's case spans more than a decade and is by far the largest financial investigation in Premier League history.
Manchester City has been owned since 2008 by a group controlled by Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi's ruling family. Under that ownership the club has won eight Premier League titles and one Champions League, becoming one of the world's leading football clubs. In 2020, UEFA banned City from the Champions League for two seasons over inflated sponsorship revenue, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ban. This season, City sit top of the Premier League after winning all five of their opening matches.
