A Verdict That Shook Football
The news that has dominated football conversations is finally here, and it is seismic. According to multiple reports emerging in late September 2026, an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty on a staggering 114 of the 115 charges brought
against them by the Premier League. The verdict follows a confidential hearing that concluded in December 2024, capping a years-long investigation into the club's financial conduct. While neither the club nor the Premier League has made an official public statement confirming the specifics, sources close to the matter have indicated that the panel ruled against City on almost every count. The club has consistently denied all wrongdoing and is expected to launch a robust appeal, but the initial outcome has sent shockwaves through the sport, threatening the foundations of a footballing dynasty.
Unpacking the 115 Charges
So, what was Manchester City actually accused of? The charges, first laid out by the Premier League in February 2023, are complex and wide-ranging, covering a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. They can be broadly broken down into several categories. A large portion of the allegations, over 50 of them, relate to the club failing to provide accurate financial information, particularly regarding sponsorship revenue. This stems from claims, originally published by German outlet Der Spiegel, that the club disguised investments from its Abu Dhabi-based owners as independent sponsorship deals. Further charges concerned the failure to fully disclose payments made to managers and players during that period. The Premier League also accused the club of breaching both its own Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. Crucially, a significant number of charges related to Manchester City's alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation from 2018 onwards.
The Sanctions on the Table
With a guilty verdict reportedly in, the key question is about the punishment. While no sanction has been decided, the Premier League's own rules allow for a wide spectrum of penalties. The precedent set by recent cases offers a sobering perspective. In the 2023-24 season, Everton and Nottingham Forest were handed significant points deductions for single breaches of financial rules. Given that City has been reportedly found guilty of over 100 breaches, many commentators and rival clubs are calling for sanctions far exceeding a simple fine. A massive points deduction, one severe enough to cause relegation, is considered a very real possibility. Some have even called for City to be stripped of the titles they won during the period of the alleged breaches. The most extreme, or 'nuclear', option available to the commission is expulsion from the Premier League altogether, a move that would be unprecedented for a club of City's stature.
This Isn't Over: The Inevitable Appeal
Manchester City has maintained its innocence from the very beginning, stating it has a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to support its case. Following the reported verdict, the club's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, released an open letter thanking fans for their support while continuing to insist on the club's innocence. An appeal is not just expected; it is practically guaranteed. Fans might remember that City successfully appealed a two-year ban from European competitions handed down by UEFA in 2020. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned that ban, citing that much of the evidence was 'time-barred'. However, legal experts note a crucial difference this time: the Premier League's rules do not contain the same statute of limitations, meaning that argument may not work. The appeals process will likely be lengthy, meaning a final resolution could still be many months, or even years, away.
