Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against them by the Premier League, according to sources briefed on the matter.
The findings follow a four-year investigation into alleged financial breaches covering the period from 2009 to 2018, with the club now facing the possibility of significant sporting and financial sanctions.
The punishment has yet to be determined, with the Premier League’s rules allowing for measures ranging from a reprimand and fines to a points deduction or even expulsion from the competition. Manchester City are expected to appeal the findings.
The club, however, maintains that the disciplinary process is still ongoing.
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.”
The charges were formally brought against City in February 2023 after the Premier League referred the case to an independent commission.
The investigation followed the publication of leaked financial documents by German newspaper Der Spiegel in November 2018. The Premier League subsequently accused City of failing to provide accurate financial information, including details concerning payments to players and coaches.
The allegations also included breaches of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and the league’s profitability and sustainability rules.
City have consistently denied wrongdoing. Following the charges in 2023, the club said it was “surprised” by the allegations and welcomed an independent review of what it described as the “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” supporting its position.
Previous UEFA case
The Premier League case is separate from disciplinary action previously taken by UEFA against City.
In February 2020, UEFA imposed a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine following allegations linked to financial fair play rules and the Der Spiegel revelations.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the European ban five months later, ruling that some of the alleged breaches were either not established or were time-barred under UEFA regulations.
City were, however, found to have failed to cooperate with UEFA’s investigation by not providing substantial amounts of evidence. CAS described the breach as serious and imposed a €10 million fine, equivalent at the time to about £8.8 million.
The Premier League investigation has continued independently, with the lengthy process drawing repeated questions from the league’s leadership.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters acknowledged last month that the case had “taken longer than expected” but said the process had to be allowed to run its course.
Potential sanctions
Under Rule W.51 of the Premier League handbook, an independent panel has a range of disciplinary measures available if it determines that the rules have been breached.
These include reprimands, financial penalties, points deductions and, in the most serious circumstances, expulsion from the Premier League.
A points deduction could potentially be applied from the point of the decision or retrospectively, meaning the eventual ruling could have implications for previous league standings and titles.
Sports regulatory lawyer James Hill previously told The Athletic that he would expect any points deduction to be applied going forward, noting that disciplinary panels generally avoid determining the outcome of past title races through a court process.
Rule W.51.7 also allows the panel to combine sanctions or impose other measures it considers appropriate, although any punishment must be proportionate to the breaches and could be challenged on appeal.
The case comes as City sit top of the Premier League after winning their opening five matches of the 2026-27 season under new manager Enzo Maresca.
The club has won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group completed its takeover in 2008.
