Rabat – Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations, according to reports from The Athletic and The Times cited by Reuters on Friday.
The reported verdict comes more than three years after the Premier League formally charged the club and follows a lengthy hearing before an independent commission.
The Premier League has not publicly confirmed the outcome. A league spokesperson told Reuters that the process remains confidential and declined to comment on the reported findings. City are expected to appeal the decision.
The case dates back to February 2023, when the Premier League referred City to an independent commission following a four-year investigation into the club’s financial affairs.
The charges cover multiple areas, including allegations that City failed to provide accurate financial information concerning revenue and operating costs.
The Premier League also accused the club of breaching UEFA financial regulations and its own Profitability and Sustainability Rules. A further group of allegations concerned City’s alleged failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
The allegations cover several seasons beginning in 2009-10. City have consistently denied wrongdoing and have previously maintained that they welcomed the opportunity to present their case before an independent commission.
The hearing began in September 2024 and continued for roughly three months before concluding in December of that year.
The complexity and volume of evidence involved contributed to the unusually long wait for a decision. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August that the case had taken longer than expected but stressed that the league had no control over the independent process.
What Happens Next?
Despite the reported guilty findings, Manchester City have not yet been handed a sporting sanction.
The independent commission will determine the consequences of the breaches, meaning the immediate question is what punishment, if any, will follow the verdict. Possible sanctions discussed during the case have included financial penalties, points deductions and other sporting measures, although no specific punishment has been announced.
The appeal process could also extend the dispute further. City are expected to challenge the reported findings, meaning Friday’s development may not represent the final stage of the case.
The timing of the reports adds another layer of significance for a club that has dominated English football over the period covered by the investigation. City won multiple Premier League titles during the years in question, including a historic run of four consecutive league championships between 2021 and 2024.
