Arteta twice denied knowledge of wrongdoing as Man City found guilty of 114 charges

Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League charges relating to alleged breaches of the league’s financial rules, with the club’s punishment — which could range from a significant fine to a points deduction or even expulsion — yet to be determined.

The charges, first brought in February 2023, cover a period between 2009 and 2018. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was present at the Etihad Stadium throughout part of that window, serving as Pep Guardiola’s assistant from July 2016 to December 2019 before returning to Arsenal to replace Unai Emery.

When the charges were first announced, Arteta declined to comment directly. Asked whether he had witnessed or had any knowledge of wrongdoing during his time at City, he gave a single-word answer: “No.”

Quizzed again the following year, the Spaniard remained deliberately measured. “That’s something for the authorities to manage. It’s not for us,” he said. “If they’re playing that means they can play and they are entitled to play. That’s it.”

City have pushed back against the framing of Friday’s reports, insisting the process is not yet concluded. In a club statement, they said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.”

The club added that they had “diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

The verdict lands at a charged moment in the rivalry between the two clubs. Arsenal finished last season seven points clear of City to claim the Premier League title, having narrowly missed out to their rivals on two previous occasions in 2023 and 2024. Liverpool pipped Arsenal to the title in one of those campaigns.

The question of what sanction City will ultimately face now moves to the foreground, with a points deduction carrying the most dramatic potential consequences for the league’s competitive landscape.