Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of breaching almost all of the financial regulations contained in the Premier League’s long-running case against the club, with reports indicating that an independent commission has ruled against City on 114 of the 115 charges.
The development was first reported on Friday by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, who stated that Manchester City had been found guilty on “virtually all charges” relating to alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations. Ornstein also reported that the club is expected to appeal the verdict, while sanctions have yet to be determined.
A separate report from 3News, also citing the emerging information, put the figure at 114 guilty findings out of the 115 charges brought against City. The report stressed that the sanctions have not yet been decided.
The Premier League has not yet published the commission’s full ruling on its official website, meaning the precise findings behind the reported 114 guilty verdicts, as well as the commission’s reasoning, cannot yet be independently examined from the official decision.
The Premier League originally referred Manchester City to an independent commission in February 2023 after a four-year investigation into alleged financial-rule breaches. The charges cover nine seasons, from 2009/10 through 2017/18, and include allegations concerning the accuracy of financial information supplied to the league, remuneration disclosures involving managers and players, and compliance with the league’s financial rules.
The Premier League’s original statement said the allegations included claims that City failed to provide accurate financial information relating to revenue, sponsorship income, related-party transactions and operating costs. The league also alleged breaches concerning manager and player remuneration, UEFA financial regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability requirements.
A further category of allegations concerns City’s cooperation with the Premier League’s investigation. The league’s referral included claims that the club failed to provide information and documents required under the rules during the investigation period.
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and have contested the allegations throughout the process. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August that the case had taken longer than expected but stressed that the independent process had to be allowed to run its course.
The independent commission hearing itself concluded in December 2024 after lasting around 12 weeks, but the decision remained unpublished for a further period. Masters previously said the proceedings were confidential and that he could not provide an update on the timing of the verdict.
Under the Premier League’s disciplinary framework, an independent commission determines whether a breach has occurred and, where appropriate, what sanction should follow. The league says possible sanctions include fines, points deductions and other sporting penalties.
The same framework provides for an appeal against a commission decision. The Appeal Board can uphold, dismiss or vary the commission’s decision, meaning Friday’s reported findings do not necessarily represent the final outcome of the case.
For now, therefore, no final punishment has been announced. Reports of possible relegation, points deductions, title-related consequences or other sporting sanctions remain speculative until the commission formally publishes its decision and sanctions.
The next significant stage will be the publication of the independent commission’s ruling and the subsequent appeal process, should Manchester City formally challenge the findings.
Until the official decision is released, the most accurate description is that Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 Premier League financial charges, with sanctions yet to be determined and an appeal expected.