After years of waiting, Manchester City has been found guilty of nearly all of the 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, according to multiple reports.
Manchester City is expected to appeal the decision.
The club was initially charged in 2023 with 115 breaches of the league's financial rules after a four-year investigation that began in 2018. The charges involved alleged financial irregularities from 2009-2018, beginning shortly after the club's Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008 that ultimately turned Manchester City into one of the biggest institutions in world soccer.
The Premier League has declined to comment on the reports.
Manchester City released a statement Friday, Sept. 25 to say that the "Premier League process remains
ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality."
"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."
A hearing over City's charges began on Sept. 16, 2024, and concluded nearly three months later. The case was heard by an independent commission made up of three judges appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel.
In February 2020, UEFA banned City from European competitions for two years after being found guilty of overstating the club's revenue. But that punishment was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Manchester City has won eight Premier League titles in less than two decades since the change in ownership, as well as a UEFA Champions League crown.
Will Manchester City be punished?
Other clubs have already faced sporting sanctions for breaching financial regulations.
Everton were docked a total of eight points during the 2023-24 season after two separate breaches of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules, while Nottingham Forest were deducted four points for a breach of the same rules in March 2024.
Newcastle United narrowly avoided potential sanctions after selling players before a June 30, 2024, financial reporting deadline to comply with spending regulations.
The allegations against City are far broader and cover more than a decade, making the case unprecedented in scale. Lawyers, club executives and supporters across the league have spent years awaiting a verdict.
Contributing: Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manchester City found guilty on nearly all Premier League charges. What's next?
