A recent Instagram post by @balliqmedia sparked controversy, claiming Manchester City had been sanctioned with a 20-point deduction for each of the next 10 seasons, starting from 2027/28. The post included an image of the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City's crest, garnering approximately 9,890 likes, 198 comments, 83 reposts, and 5,060 shares. Similar posts were made by other social media users, raising concerns about misinformation.
Dubawa, a fact-checking organization, investigated the claim and found it to be false. According to the Premier League, an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of serious financial rule breaches from 2009/10 to 2017/18, as well as most charges related to the club's cooperation with the investigation. However, the Premier League emphasized that being found guilty is not the same as receiving a punishment.
The Premier League announced on September 29, 2026, that a separate hearing would be held to address the sanction issue. This hearing would remain private and confidential until the outcome could legally be published. Manchester City has the right to appeal the commission's findings, with the deadline set for October 2, 2026. The league confirmed that the full process, including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions, remains ongoing.
Manchester City has rejected the findings, stating that the club intends to pursue available appeal avenues. In a club statement, City said the Premier League process remains ongoing and that significant elements remain incomplete. This contradicts the claim that Manchester City had already "received their punishment."
Dubawa found that the 20-point figure has appeared as an opinion about what Manchester City's punishment could be, rather than as an announced sanction. Former England international Danny Mills argued on talkSPORT that City should receive a 20-point deduction for each of nine future seasons, but this was his proposed punishment, not a ruling from the Premier League or the independent commission.
The viral post presents a proposed punishment as though it were an officially confirmed sanction. As of the latest Premier League statement, the possible sanctions remain to be determined. The league says the commission has broad discretion, with possible sanctions including fines, points deductions, and other sporting penalties.
In conclusion, the social media post is false, and Manchester City has been found guilty of 114/115 charges, but the punishment has not yet been decided or announced. The Premier League has confirmed that a separate sanctions hearing is required and that the process remains ongoing.
Key points
- Manchester City has been found guilty of serious financial rule breaches, but the punishment has not been announced.
- The Premier League has confirmed that a separate sanctions hearing is required to determine Manchester City's punishment.
- The 20-point deduction figure is a proposed punishment, not an officially confirmed sanction.
