Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial charges brought against them, with the landmark verdict delivered on September 25, 2026. The sanctions are yet to be determined and the club are expected to appeal, having repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Leaks and UEFA investigation
In November 2018, German publication Der Spiegel published a series of leaked internal emails and documents from Football Leaks. These files alleged that Manchester City had artificially inflated sponsorship deals to circumvent UEFA Financial Fair Play rules and hide operational costs.
Following those reports, UEFA formally opened an investigation in March 2019 into Manchester City's financial practices, focusing on potential financial fair play and licensing rule violations spanning several seasons.
UEFA ban and CAS overturn
In February 2020, UEFA's Club Financial Control Body found Manchester City guilty of serious financial breaches and handed down a two-year ban from European competitions alongside a €30million (£25.8m) fine. Manchester City immediately maintained their innocence and announced plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the European ban in July 2020, ruling that many alleged breaches were either unproven or time-barred under UEFA rules. However, CAS still fined the club €10m (£8.6m) for failing to cooperate with UEFA's initial investigation.
Premier League charges and trial
While UEFA pursued its proceedings, the Premier League conducted its own four-year investigation starting in late 2018. Because Premier League regulations are not restricted by the same statute of limitations as UEFA rules, league investigators reviewed the club's entire operational period.
In February 2023, the Premier League officially charged Manchester City with 115 alleged breaches of its financial regulations across a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018. The allegations focused on the club failing to provide accurate financial reports, misrepresenting manager and player compensation, violating profitability rules, and failing to cooperate with league investigators.
City immediately denied all allegations, expressing surprise and welcoming the appointment of an independent commission. Reports in late 2023 confirmed that a confidential hearing date before an independent panel had been agreed.
The verdict
A private 12-week legal hearing commenced on September 16, 2024, at an undisclosed location in London. The three-person independent panel heard testimonies from forensic accountants, club officials, and legal experts. The formal hearing concluded in December 2024, with legal commentators warning that deliberation would take many months.
Throughout 2025 and into 2026, the commission deliberated behind closed doors as Premier League chief executive Richard Masters urged patience, reiterating that the league had no influence over the timing or execution of the panel's final decision.
On September 25, 2026, the verdict finding City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges emerged via The Athletic. Sanctions are yet to be determined, and the club are expected to appeal.
