The case has hung over English football for years, and it has now moved into a far more serious phase. Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 Premier League charges brought against them, although the punishment has not yet been decided.
A long-running financial case
- The Premier League investigation concerns alleged regulatory breaches committed between 2009 and 2018.
- The inquiry began after confidential Manchester City financial documents were published by the German magazine Der Spiegel in November 2018.
- City were accused of providing inaccurate financial information, failing to fully disclose payments made to players and coaches, and breaking UEFA Financial Fair Play rules as well as the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations.
- In February 2020, UEFA imposed a two-year ban from its competitions and a €30 million fine on City following the revelations.
- Manchester City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which overturned the European ban and cut the financial penalty to €10 million.
- CAS ruled that City had not disguised sponsorship agreements, while finding that the club had failed to cooperate sufficiently with UEFA’s investigation.
City maintain their position
The club have continued to dispute the allegations and stressed that the Premier League process is not complete. A Manchester City spokesperson said that significant stages remained, with the proceedings still covered by strict confidentiality.
City added that their stance remained the same as in their February 2023 statement. The club said it had followed due process throughout the past eight years and had expected the Premier League’s board and leadership to act as an independent, impartial and fair regulator, free from partisan influence.
Sanctions have yet to be set
A finding of guilt does not immediately determine the final sporting consequences. The available sanctions could range from a reprimand or financial penalties to a points deduction. At the most severe end, Manchester City could be expelled from the Premier League.
The club would retain the right to appeal any sanction imposed. For now, the scale of the reported verdict is clear, but the punishment that could reshape the English game has still to be delivered.
