An independent commission delivers its verdict in English football’s most consequential financial case, but the battle is far from over.
By Andalo Christine Ingutia
Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, in a verdict that marks the most significant moment yet in a case that has consumed English football for years.
The finding, reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, was reached by an independent commission following proceedings that stretched over an extended period. City were cleared on only one of the charges. The remaining 114 were upheld.
No punishment has been announced. The club is expected to appeal, and both sides have 14 days to do so. If an appeal is lodged, the matter would be referred to a new three-member commission — meaning the final outcome could still be some way off.
The Premier League brought the charges in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into City’s financial affairs. The allegations cover a period between 2009 and 2018, during which the club, backed by Abu Dhabi ownership, transformed themselves into the dominant force in English football, winning multiple league titles, domestic trophies and the UEFA Champions League.
The charges relate to several areas of financial regulation. City were accused of providing inaccurate financial information concerning revenue, sponsorship income and operating costs, and of failing to disclose complete details of payments made to managers and players. The case also included alleged violations of UEFA financial regulations and the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The club was further accused of failing to cooperate fully with league investigators during the course of the inquiry.
City have consistently denied any wrongdoing. The club previously stated it held evidence to support its position and maintained that stance yesterday following the commission’s findings. Rather than addressing the specific guilty verdicts, a club spokesperson issued a carefully worded statement redirecting attention to the league’s conduct as a regulator.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
The statement signals that City intend to contest the findings vigorously. The club has long expressed confidence in its legal position and has rejected the suggestion that it deliberately operated outside the rules during the period in question.
The question now dominating football is what sanction, if any, City will ultimately face. Speculation has ranged widely, from heavy financial penalties and points deductions to transfer bans, the stripping of previously won titles and, at the most extreme end of the discussion, expulsion from the Premier League altogether. None of these outcomes has been confirmed, and no formal punishment will be determined until the appeal process has run its course.
The scale of that potential punishment is what gives this verdict its extraordinary weight. City’s success during the period covered by the charges is unmatched in the modern English game. If sanctions ultimately affect their standing in the league table — past or present — the ripple effects across English football would be profound.
The case has also raised wider questions about the Premier League’s regulatory framework and whether it is equipped to handle disputes of this complexity and duration. The original charges were brought more than two years ago. The investigation that preceded them lasted four years. The proceedings have been among the most technically demanding in the sport’s history, involving vast quantities of financial documentation and expert testimony.
For City, the immediate focus will be on mounting an appeal and protecting the club’s position. Their trophies, their current squad and their participation in domestic and European competition remain unaffected at this stage.
For the Premier League, the process now moves to its next phase. A final determination on punishment cannot be made until all appeal options have been exhausted.
English football has rarely witnessed a case of this magnitude. The commission’s verdict is a landmark moment — but with an appeal pending and sanctions yet to be decided, the story of Manchester City and the 115 charges is not finished yet.
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