Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial charges brought against them, according to a report by The Athletic. The sanctions have not yet been decided, meaning a range of punishments remain possible. City are also expected to appeal the findings.
Club responds to findings
A Manchester City spokesperson told The Athletic: "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 has 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."
City have always denied the allegations. The club said after the charges were announced in February 2023 that it was "surprised" by the decision and welcomed the matter being considered by an independent commission.
Investigation background
The Premier League's investigation centred on alleged breaches dating back to 2009 and covering a number of financial regulations. City were accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, including details relating to revenue, sponsorship payments and payments made to players and managers. The charges also relate to alleged breaches of UEFA's financial regulations and the Premier League's own profitability and sustainability rules.
The investigation began after German publication Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents in November 2018. City were subsequently referred to an independent commission by the Premier League. The commission hearing took place privately and the process has taken years to reach this stage.
Previous UEFA case
The Premier League case is separate from an earlier UEFA investigation stemming from the same leaked documents. In February 2020, UEFA handed City a two-year ban from its competitions and a €30m fine. That ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport five months later after CAS ruled that the alleged financial fair play breaches were either not established or had become time-barred.
However, City were found to have failed to cooperate with UEFA's investigation by not providing substantial amounts of evidence. CAS described that breach as "severe" and imposed an £8.8m fine.
Possible sanctions
The potential sanctions are wide-ranging. Under Rule W.51 of the Premier League handbook, an independent commission can impose punishments ranging from a reprimand or fine through to sporting sanctions. Those sanctions can include a points deduction and, in the most serious scenario, expulsion from the Premier League.
The charges relate to a period in which City established themselves as one of the dominant clubs in English football. Under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group, which acquired the club in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and the Champions League. Six of those major honours came after the Premier League charges were first brought.
Pep Guardiola left the club at the end of last season after a decade in charge and has been replaced by Enzo Maresca. The sanctions still have to be determined and City are expected to appeal.
The Premier League process has been ongoing for more than eight years since the initial investigation began, with the formal charges eventually brought in February 2023. The independent commission's decision has yet to be formally published, with the information on the findings currently coming from sources briefed on the matter. The full consequences for Manchester City, therefore, remain unclear. But with 114 of the 115 charges reportedly upheld, the case has entered a decisive new phase.
