Manchester City found guilty of majority of 115 Premier League financial charges

After more than two years of waiting, Manchester City finally know the outcome of the case brought against them by the Premier League over alleged breaches of its financial rules. According to information obtained by the BBC, the independent panel hearing the matter has found the club guilty of the majority of the 115 charges. The decision has not yet been made public, and the possible consequences range from financial penalties to the stripping of titles or even relegation from the top flight.

• The independent panel has found Manchester City guilty of the majority of the 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League.
• The charges cover nine seasons between 2009 and 2018, including 54 counts of failing to provide accurate financial information and 35 counts of failing to cooperate.
• City have always denied any wrongdoing and are expected to appeal, with Lord Pannick KC leading their legal team.
• Possible sanctions include fines, points deductions, title stripping or expulsion from the Premier League.
• Several top-flight clubs have already sought legal advice over potential compensation claims.

What the panel decided on Manchester City's 115 charges

The Premier League investigation lasted four years, and the formal process began in February 2023 when City were charged and referred to an independent commission over alleged breaches said to have occurred between 2009 and 2018. The hearing started on 16 September 2024 and spanned ten weeks. The panel has now reached a conclusion: the club has been found guilty of the majority of the alleged offences.

The 115 charges fall into five categories. The largest group comprises 54 counts of failing to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18. They are followed by 35 counts of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023, 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, 7 counts of breaching profit and sustainability rules from 2015-16 to 2017-18, and 5 counts of non-compliance with UEFA regulations, including financial fair play, between 2013-14 and 2017-18.

What sanctions Manchester City could face

The disciplinary commission has every option at its disposal. The most severe would see City expelled from the Premier League, meaning the club would lose its membership and be demoted to a lower division at the end of the season. A points deduction so heavy that it effectively guaranteed relegation could produce the same outcome.

Other possibilities include fines, the stripping of titles, or being forced to play matches behind closed doors. The Premier League declined to comment when approached, while City issued a statement expressing frustration that news of the verdict had leaked. The club insisted the process remains ongoing, that it is subject to strict confidentiality, and that its position has not changed since February 2023.

The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.

Why City are expected to appeal and how long the process could last

Manchester City have denied any wrongdoing throughout and, according to information obtained by the BBC, they will appeal if found guilty. Their legal team is led by Lord Pannick KC, who is reported to charge around £5,000 an hour and previously helped the club overturn a two-year European ban handed down by UEFA in 2020.

An appeal is widely seen as a formality. What is impossible to predict is when this saga will finally end, given that eight years have already passed since the first allegations emerged and more than two since the hearing began. The commission's judgement can be appealed directly, but City cannot take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Which titles Manchester City won during the period under investigation

During the period covered by the charges, Manchester City won three Premier League titles: their first of the modern era in 2011-12, followed by 2013-14 and 2017-18. They also lifted the FA Cup in 2011 and the League Cup three times, in 2013-14, 2015-16 and 2017-18. In total, that is seven domestic trophies across the years in question.

If the commission were to strip any of those honours, the runners-up from those seasons would be the obvious beneficiaries. City have won eight league titles since the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover in 2008, along with multiple cups, including the Champions League as part of a historic treble in 2023.

Why other Premier League clubs are considering compensation claims

Several Premier League clubs have already sought legal advice to determine whether they have grounds to claim financial compensation as a result of City's breaches. Those whose league positions were affected during the relevant seasons could argue they lost the chance to challenge for honours or were denied the opportunity to avoid relegation.

Any such claims would have to be heard individually before independent commissions. A recent precedent exists: earlier this year, Everton were ordered to pay Burnley £35 million over the impact of a breach of the Premier League's financial rules. That case related to the 2021-22 season, when Everton were found to have broken PSR regulations over a three-year period. Burnley argued the breach affected their chances of staying in the Premier League and sought compensation for the losses associated with relegation. The commission awarded them £26 million in damages plus a further £9 million in interest.

How much the Manchester City case has cost

The process has been both lengthy and expensive. This specific case took six years to reach the hearing, and legal fees on both sides were estimated in the tens of millions of pounds before proceedings even began. Whichever side prevails can be expected to make a claim for costs.

Everton's first PSR case offers a useful reference point. The Premier League wanted the club to cover the full £4.9 million in legal costs after their initial six-point deduction. An appeal board ruled that Everton should pay £1.7 million, with the league covering the remaining £3.2 million. If the Premier League ends up having to pay costs in the City case, the amount would be spread across the 20 clubs that make up the competition.

How the City case differs from Everton, Forest and Chelsea

The Manchester City case has drawn comparisons to the proceedings brought against Nottingham Forest and Everton over PSR breaches during the 2023-24 season. Both clubs were docked points for exceeding permitted losses over the three-year period from 2020-21 to 2022-23. Those cases, however, involved a single charge, were far simpler to interpret and required significantly less evidence. Everton were sanctioned twice: first with six points, reduced from ten on appeal, and later with an additional two. Forest were docked four points.

Chelsea also faced 74 charges of rule breaches, though of a very different nature. That case primarily focused on transfers made between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons, including deals for Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Willian. The Premier League fined Chelsea £10 million and imposed a suspended transfer ban after the club admitted making £47 million in secret payments. The key difference is that Chelsea reached a settlement with the league after self-reporting, whereas City have denied any wrongdoing from the outset.