Reports: Manchester City found guilty of 114 breaches
An independent commission is said to have found the club guilty of all but one of the financial charges against it.
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Manchester City has reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial breaches of which the Premier League accused the club, according to several British media outlets. The league and Manchester City have not yet officially confirmed the verdict; no punishment is known either.
The case concerns alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. According to ABC News, which cites Reuters and several British reporters, an independent commission has ruled that 114 of the 115 charges have been proved.
The Premier League referred Manchester City to an independent commission in February 2023. The charges included providing inaccurate financial information, misrepresenting payments to players and managers, possible breaches of European financial rules and insufficient co-operation with the investigation.
Manchester City has consistently denied the allegations. At the start of the proceedings, the club said it had confidence in the independent inquiry and pointed to evidence it said supported its position. According to reports, an appeal against the verdict is expected.
The hearing took place in 2024 and concluded in December of that year. The fact that the verdict has emerged only nearly two years later, albeit provisionally through sources and media reports, underlines the exceptional scale of the case. A full written ruling has not yet been made public.
The commission still has to decide what punishment will follow. Possibilities mentioned in reports include a fine, a points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. Until that decision is made, nothing formally changes in the current competition or in previously won trophies.
The case also comes against the backdrop of changing rules. From the 2026–27 season, the Premier League will use new frameworks for player costs and financial resilience, replacing the previous rules on profitability and sustainability. The verdict, however, concerns the rules that applied during the period under investigation.
The outcome could affect confidence in financial oversight in English football. Clubs that competed with City for trophies and European places for years may feel that any sanctions should also be reflected in the sporting record. At the same time, the absence of a public ruling means it is still too early to draw conclusions about the precise breaches, the severity of the punishment or the consequences for previous seasons.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Manchester City was charged by the Premier League in 2023 with 115 alleged financial breaches.
- The alleged breaches date mainly from the period 2009–2018.
- According to media reports, an independent commission has found 114 charges proved.
- The official verdict, sanction and any consequences for previously won trophies have not yet been made public.
Left
Arguments From this perspective, a powerful club should not be able to escape accountability through lengthy proceedings and extensive legal resources. If financial rules are intended to keep the competition fair, a proven advantage should be visibly and firmly corrected.
Values Equal opportunities, public accountability and protection of smaller clubs.
Consequences A mild punishment could be seen as a signal that wealthy clubs can ultimately absorb the rules; a severe punishment could restore confidence in sporting oversight.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach stresses that both financial control and due process are necessary. A sanction should be proportionate, based on a public and verifiable ruling, and take the individual charges into account.
Values Legal certainty, independent oversight and proportionality.
Consequences A transparent procedure could strengthen the Premier League, even if the final punishment is less severe than some supporters demand.
Right
Arguments This perspective warns against an ever-expanding regulatory system in which sports administrators seek to reinterpret performances after the event. As long as the ruling is not public, the club should not be treated publicly as definitively guilty.
Values Ownership, legal protection, freedom of contract and restrained governance.
Consequences An excessive punishment could harm investment and competitive stability; at the same time, selective enforcement could undermine the authority of the rules.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The historical background and nature of the charges have been confirmed by the Premier League and public reporting. The exact ruling on 114 of the 115 charges remains provisionally based on media reports because the parties involved have not officially published it.
- uncertain Manchester City has reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges. — ABC News cites Reuters and several British media outlets, but reports that the Premier League and Manchester City have not confirmed the verdict. source
- confirmed The Premier League referred Manchester City to an independent commission in February 2023. — This is stated in the Premier League’s official statement. source
- confirmed The charges related to the period from 2009 to 2018 inclusive. — The official Premier League statement and The Guardian describe this period. source
- confirmed The charges included financial reporting, payments, UEFA rules, sustainability rules and co-operation with the investigation. — These categories appear in the Premier League’s official charge sheet. source
- confirmed The hearing concluded in December 2024. — The Guardian states that the hearings were completed in December 2024. source
- confirmed The sanction is not yet known. — ABC News reports that the commission still has to decide on the punishment. source
- confirmed The Premier League replaced the previous financial rules with new frameworks from the 2026–27 season. — The Premier League describes the introduction of the Squad Cost Ratio and Sustainability and Systemic Resilience rules. source
Editor's note
The core of the story comes from a Reuters report published by ABC News, which draws on several British reports. The Premier League and Manchester City have not officially confirmed the verdict; the written ruling and sanction are still unavailable.Sources
- Manchester City found guilty of breaching EPL financial rules, club expected to appeal — ABC News, op basis van Reuters
- Premier League statement over de aanklachten tegen Manchester City — Premier League
- Three years on: what is the latest with Premier League charges against Manchester City? — The Guardian
- New Premier League financial system explained — Premier League
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „manchester city”
- NOS — „manchester city”
- Het Parool — „manchester city”