Manchester City, the English football giants, have been found guilty of 114 out of 115 counts of breaching the Premier League's financial rules. The charges date back to between 2009 and 2018. The allegations against Manchester City began nearly eight years ago. The Premier League's investigation into potential breaches of financial fair play rules started in March 2019.
The allegations against Manchester City were first made by German publication Der Spiegel in November 2018. The publication alleged that City attempted to bypass UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules by allowing their Abu Dhabi-based sponsors to make backdated cash injections. Manchester City responded by saying the claims came from an "illegal hack" and that the publication of internal club emails was part of an "organised and clear attempt" to smear their reputation.
In February 2020, UEFA banned Manchester City from European competitions for two seasons and fined them 30 million euros after finding them guilty of committing "serious breaches" of FFP regulations. An independent adjudicatory panel found that City overstated its sponsorship revenue in its accounts submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016. Manchester City immediately announced their intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In July 2020, Manchester City successfully overturned the two-year ban, and their fine was reduced to 10 million euros. CAS found that most of the alleged breaches reported were either not established or time-barred. However, a significant fine was still imposed on account of City's failure to cooperate with the investigation. This decision allowed Manchester City to continue participating in European competitions.
In February 2023, after a four-year investigation, the Premier League referred Manchester City to an independent commission over more than 100 alleged breaches of finance rules. The alleged breaches included failure to provide accurate financial information, FFP breaches, breaches of profitability and sustainability, and failure to cooperate with investigations and regulations. Manchester City denied any wrongdoing, claiming to have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position".
Despite the ongoing investigations and allegations, Manchester City continued to achieve success on the pitch. In May 2023, they became only the second English club to win a treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. They lifted the coveted European trophy for the first time in the club's history after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the Istanbul final. In May 2024, City became the first side to ever win four consecutive Premier League titles.
The verdict in the case against Manchester City was reportedly delivered in September 2026, with the club found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges. This decision comes after a hearing in front of an independent commission in central London, which began in September 2024 and concluded in December 2024. The panel retired to consider their verdict, ultimately finding Manchester City guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules.
Key points
- Manchester City found guilty of 114 out of 115 counts of breaching Premier League's financial rules
- Allegations against Manchester City date back to between 2009 and 2018
- Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, stepped down in May 2026 after 10 years and 20 trophies with the club
