Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of their 115 charges relating to alleged spending breaches, according to The Athletic. The Premier League champions now face an uncertain future as the independent commission considers sanctions.
Nature of the charges
The Premier League charged the club in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into their financial practices. The charges primarily concern the alleged failure to provide accurate financial information and the masking of player and manager compensation between 2009 and 2018. City is also accused of breaching UEFA's financial fair play rules and failing to cooperate with subsequent investigations.
Possible sporting sanctions
A severe points deduction is considered the most likely sporting sanction. Finance experts have speculated this could range from 40 to 60 points given the nine-year period the charges cover, with automatic demotion also mooted as a possibility.
There is speculation about whether the Premier League could retroactively strip City of the three league titles won during the period in question if points deductions are applied retrospectively. While extreme and lacking clear precedent, this remains a theoretical possibility if the commission decides financial irregularities directly compromised the sporting integrity of those seasons.
Financial penalties and exclusion
The independent commission could also impose massive monetary fines. Other Premier League clubs might seek compensation through arbitration if they believe the irregularities caused them direct financial or sporting losses.
The ultimate option involves outright expulsion from the Premier League, which would force the club to seek entry into the English Football League structure. While considered a less likely extreme scenario, relegation remains on the table either as a direct punishment or as the inevitable result of a massive points deduction.
Open rules and appeal
The potential punishments are outlined in rule W.51 of the Premier League's handbook. The panel could combine any number of them, and further sanctions deemed appropriate could be applied. City can still lodge an appeal and deny any wrongdoing.
