Manchester City found guilty on all but one of 115 Premier League financial charges

Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of 115 charges of breaching Premier League financial rules, the independent commission overseeing the long-running case has ruled. The verdict follows a four-year investigation and covers an alleged nine-season period from 2009 to 2018.

The Premier League first opened its investigation into City in 2018, prompted by the Football Leaks revelations. After a series of legal delays, formal charges were laid in February 2023 and the club were referred to an independent commission. City denied all charges at the time, expressing “surprise” at the referral.

The charges centred on City’s alleged failure to accurately report financial information — including the declared value of sponsorship deals and the submission of manager and player pay details — as well as alleged non-compliance with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) and UEFA’s financial fair play regulations. The club were also accused of failing to cooperate with the league’s investigation. The alleged breaches span every season from 2009-10 through to 2022-23, a period in which City won three Premier League titles.

When the charges were first announced, City issued a statement strenuously denying the allegations and said they welcomed the chance for an independent commission “to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of our position”, adding: “We look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

The scale of the guilty verdict now raises serious questions about the sanctions City will face. A significant points deduction or, in the most severe scenario, expulsion from the Premier League are among the potential consequences. City won an unprecedented four consecutive Premier League titles between 2020-21 and 2023-24, and the verdict is expected to have wide-ranging implications for the league’s financial governance framework.