Manchester City, the English champions, have been found guilty of the majority of 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations. An independent commission has reached its findings, but sanctions against the club have yet to be announced. The charges cover financial reporting, player and manager payments, UEFA rules, Premier League sustainability regulations, and cooperation with investigators.
According to multiple reports, the independent commission found City guilty of most of the charges. BBC Sport, citing sources familiar with the case, reported that the commission had reached its decision. The Athletic and The Times reported that the club had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 counts.
The Premier League charged City in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into the club's finances. The allegations covered the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. Some charges concerned City's alleged failure to cooperate with the league's investigation between December 2018 and February 2023.
At the heart of the case are 54 allegations that City failed to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information. Another 14 charges concern alleged failures to provide accurate information about payments to players and managers. Five relate to compliance with UEFA financial regulations, and seven concern alleged breaches of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
The independent commission began hearing the case behind closed doors in September 2024. Proceedings lasted about 12 weeks and concluded in December that year. The lengthy wait for a decision had drawn growing scrutiny, although Premier League chief executive Richard Masters maintained that the timetable was controlled by the independent panel.
City have consistently denied wrongdoing and are expected to appeal, potentially extending one of English football's biggest financial disputes. The club said the case had not been concluded, adding that it had respected due process throughout the investigation and expected the Premier League and its officials to act as an "independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator".
Attention will now turn to what sanctions could follow the commission's findings. No punishment has yet been announced, and reports indicate that the disciplinary process has not been completed. The case is separate from City's previous legal challenge to the Premier League's Associated Party Transaction rules, which govern commercial arrangements involving companies connected to club owners.
Key points
- Manchester City found guilty of majority of 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations
- Independent commission reaches findings, but sanctions against the club have yet to be announced
- City expected to appeal, potentially extending one of English football's biggest financial disputes
