It has been reported that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against the club by the Premier League.
The charges relate to alleged breaches of financial rules spanning a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018, together with a failure to co-operate with investigations from 2018 to 2023.
At the time of writing, neither Manchester City nor the Premier League have confirmed the position, but Manchester City has continued to protest its innocence. As such, there is still uncertainty as to the position, but this article attempts to explore the potential implications if the reports are accurate.
What Has Been Reported
On 25 September 2026, reports emerged that an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty on 114 of 115 charges brought by the Premier League. The charges, first announced in February 2023, relate to five broad categories:
- The first category concerns the failure to provide accurate financial information, particularly relating to revenue and sponsorship arrangements.
- The second concerns the failure to disclose full details of manager and player remuneration.
- The third relates to alleged breaches of UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
- The fourth covers non-compliance with the Premier League’s own Profitability and Sustainability Rules (“PSR”).
- The fifth addresses a failure to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigations over a five-year period.
The hearing concluded in December 2024 after a long process. Even without the full decision in the public domain, the duration and scale of the proceedings underline how complex this dispute has become.
The reporting last week indicated that the independent commission has found against Manchester City on virtually all of the charges brought by the Premier League. However, there have been no reports on the likely sanctions if the reports are indeed accurate. Indeed, Manchester City’s position is that the process is ongoing, and the Premier League is yet to publicly comment on the reports.
What are the possible outcomes?
If the reports are accurate, the next question that the footballing world and beyond will be waiting for answers to will be what sanctions are to be imposed?
What sanctions may be imposed is entirely speculative. The decision ultimately rests with the independent commission, which will have a full range of possible sanctions at its disposal, from sporting sanctions such as points deductions, stripping of titles or even expulsion from the Premier League, to other sanctions such as fines.
Whilst it will be for the Premier League to advance its case on the most appropriate sanctions, we can look to previous cases as guidance for the possible outcome, such as:
- Everton was docked 6 points (reduced from 10 on appeal) in November 2023 for breach of PSR in the three year-period to the 2021-22 season.
- Nottingham Forest was docked 4 points for a similar offence in the three-year period to the 2022-23 season.
- Chelsea was fined £10.75 million in March 2026 following historic breeches of the Premier League’s rules on financial reporting, third-party investment, and youth development.
As can be seen from recent decisions, the sanctions imposed by independent commissions include both sporting and financial sanctions. However, some point out that there are key differences between recent decisions and the Manchester City case. In, particular Everton admitted its breaches and Chelsea self-referred its, whereas Manchester City has robustly disputed the charges at all stages. The number and nature of the charges in each recent case are also different to the Manchester City case.
Some sources are suggesting that the most likely outcome will be a combination of a points deduction (the sporting sanction) and a fine.
Another question to be answered is when will the independent commission decide on the sanctions? Will it do so soon, or await the outcome of any appeal that Manchester City may wish to pursue?
Regarding any appeal, Manchester City has had success in the past when in 2020 it successfully overturned a two-year ban from European competitions levied by UEFA. However, unlike that matter Manchester City will not have the option to refer the appeal to the Court for Arbitration for Sport.
What Could the Wider Ramifications Be?
If the reported verdict stands after any sanctions and appeal process, the case may influence how other clubs, leagues, and governing bodies think about enforcement, deterrence, and the credibility of private regulation.
It may also sharpen debate about whether sporting regulators need faster procedures when allegations concern competitive advantage over multiple seasons. Delay can complicate both accountability and confidence in the system.
From a wider disputes perspective, the case is a reminder that a regulatory win on paper is only one part of the picture. The real impact often depends on timing, remedy, and the ability to enforce an outcome in a way that stakeholders regard as legitimate.
There have also been reports that other current and former Premier League clubs have taken legal advice regarding possible claims against Manchester City for compensation, no doubt buoyed by the recent ruling in the claim against Everton by Burnley, in which Everton were ordered to pay Burnley £35 million in damages (this decision is currently under appeal).
It is also possible that Manchester City will need to deal with employment related issues. Some players may have relegation release clauses, which may be triggered if any sporting sanction is serious enough to force relegation. It has been reported, but again not formerly confirmed, that no current players have such clauses, but many consider that nonetheless many players will seek transfers to other clubs if the club is relegated. As an alternative, could the players and staff claim constructive dismissal?
As stated earlier in this article, at this stage all outcomes are speculative until the full details are released and the process has run its course. However, it is not difficult to see that if the verdict remains as reported, and severe sporting sanctions are levied as many anticipate, the wider implications could be significant.
