After more than two years, a judgment finally seems imminent on the 115 charges leveled against Manchester City for breaching Premier League financial rules.
Following a four‑year probe, City faced charges and the hearing kicked off on 16 September 2024.
The saga isn’t over yet – far from it.
So what does this mean for City’s trophies? Their Premier League place? An appeal? And how long until the dust settles?
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What are the 115 charges?
In February 2023, City were charged and referred to an independent commission over alleged breaches dating from 2009 to 2018.
The charges – concerning Premier League financial rules – are:
54 × failure to provide accurate financial information from 2009‑10 to 2017‑18.
14 × failure to provide accurate player and manager payment details from 2009‑10 to 2017‑18.
5 × failure to comply with UEFA rules, including financial fair play, 2013‑14 to 2017‑18.
7 × breaching Premier League profit‑and‑sustainability rules from 2015‑16 to 2017‑18.
35 × failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023.
But what does that actually mean?
German outlet Der Spiegel released leaked documents, featuring emails allegedly exchanged between senior City executives after the 2008 Abu Dhabi takeover.
It claimed the club inflated sponsorship revenue from state‑owned Etihad and telecoms group Etisalat, masking direct ADUG investment as sponsorship cash.
The scheme was said to help meet UEFA’s 2011 FFP rules and the Premier League’s 2012 PSR limits on club losses.
Further claims surfaced of off‑the‑books payments to former manager Roberto Mancini via consultancy fees from an Abu Dhabi club.
Allegations also suggest players received more money than recorded, understating true spending.
City, insisting ADUG is a private fund, declined comment, calling the leaked emails illegal and an attempt to tarnish the club’s image.
Both City and the involved companies vehemently denied any rule breaches, yet UEFA and the Premier League launched investigations anyway.
What has been the timeline of the case?
November 2018: Football Leaks surface with Der Spiegel alleging City broke financial fair play.
March 2019: UEFA opens a formal probe based on Der Spiegel’s report.
May 2019: City criticises the probe and initiates an appeal.
November 2019: CAS rules City’s appeal inadmissible.
February 2020: UEFA imposes a two‑year European ban and a €30 m fine on City.
July 2020: City overturns the European ban on appeal to CAS.
July 2021: City loses a jurisdiction ruling, allowing media to report ongoing Premier League investigations.
April 2022: Der Spiegel publishes fresh claims that the Premier League has been probing City for three years.
February 2023: The Premier League charges City with 115 financial breaches.
September 2024: The 10‑week hearing on the 115 charges commences between the Premier League and City.
February 2025: Manager Pep Guardiola says a verdict is expected “within one month”. Guardiola departed the Etihad last season.
September 2026: Sources tell the BBC a verdict has been reached, finding City guilty of most charges.
What punishment could Man City face?
No one anticipated the verdict arriving with sanctions attached.
We now await the official written judgment from the independent panel.
The panel’s composition remains secret until the judgment is published.
The disciplinary commission can impose any of the following:
Immediate or suspended points deduction.
Immediate or suspended financial penalties.
Removal from the Premier League.
A removal would strip City of membership and relegate them at season’s end.
A severe points penalty could effectively force relegation.
What has been said?
The Premier League declined to comment when approached on Friday.
City’s statement expressed frustration at the leaked verdict news.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.”
“Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the February 2023 statement.”
“The club has respected due process for eight years, trusting the Premier League Board and Executive to act as an independent, impartial regulator.”
Will there be an appeal? How long would one take?
An appeal from City will likely be a formality.
City’s legal team is led by Lord Pannick KC, reportedly charging £5,000 per hour; he helped overturn the 2020 European ban.
Given we’re eight years into this and two years beyond the hearing start, predicting an end date is impossible.
Until now, the case has been airtight, with no leaks from any side.
This is simply the latest chapter.
While the judgment can be appealed, City cannot take it to CAS.
What titles did City win and who was affected?
City secured three Premier League titles during the period in question.
Those were 2011‑12, 2013‑14 and 2017‑18.
They also lifted the FA Cup in 2011 and the EFL Cup in 2013‑14, 2015‑16 and 2017‑18.
Since the 2008 ADUG takeover, City have claimed eight league crowns, multiple cups and a 2023 Champions League treble.
If titles are reassigned, potential beneficiaries are:
Premier League
2011‑12: Manchester United
2013‑14: Liverpool
2017‑18: Manchester United
FA Cup
2010‑11: Stoke City
EFL Cup
2013‑14: Sunderland
2015‑16: Liverpool
2017‑18: Arsenal
Could affected clubs claim compensation from City?
Premier League clubs have already sought advice on potential compensation claims over City’s breaches.
Clubs whose league positions were affected could argue a loss of chance at honours.
Each claim would need to be heard individually by an independent commission.
Earlier this year, Everton was ordered to pay Burnley £35 m for a Premier League financial‑rules breach.
That case, heard by a Premier League commission, stemmed from the 2021‑22 season when Everton broke PSR rules over three years.
Burnley argued the breach cost them a chance to stay up and sought compensation for relegation losses.
The Clarets received £26 m in damages plus £9 m interest.
Everton told to pay Burnley £35m over PSR breach
How much has the case cost?
The six‑year saga incurred legal fees running into tens of millions before the hearing even began.
Whichever side prevails will likely pursue cost recovery.
For context, the Premier League wanted Everton to cover the full £4.9 m legal bill from their first PSR six‑point case.
An appeal board reduced Everton’s bill to £1.7 m, with the league covering the remaining £3.2 m.
Any Premier League‑borne costs from the City case would be spread across all 20 clubs.
Have there been other cases involving Premier League teams?
Comparisons have been drawn to Premier League actions against Nottingham Forest and Everton over PSR breaches.
During 2023‑24, both clubs were docked points for exceeding permitted losses from 2020‑21 to 2022‑23.
Those cases involved a single charge, were simpler and required far less evidence.
Everton faced two deductions: six points (reduced from ten on appeal) and a two‑point penalty.
Forest lost four points.
These penalties relate solely to PSR violations.
Why are the Man City and Chelsea cases different?
Chelsea faced 74 charge allegations, mainly about transfers from 2010‑11 to 2015‑16, including Hazard, Eto’o and Willian deals.
The Premier League fined Chelsea £10 m and issued a suspended transfer ban after they admitted £47 m in secret payments.
Chelsea also settled historical regulatory matters they self‑reported.
City, by contrast, has never admitted wrongdoing.
The Blues were also fined by UEFA and the FA.
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