A Three-Year Case Reaches Its First Conclusion
An independent Premier League commission has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges relating to alleged breaches of the league’s financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, according to reporting from The Athletic’s David Ornstein on 25 September 2026.
The charges, first brought by the Premier League in February 2023, covered alleged failures to give a true and fair picture of the club’s finances, including issues around manager and player remuneration, sponsorship income and cooperation with the investigation. A three-person independent commission heard the case over roughly ten weeks between September and December 2024, with the verdict only now emerging almost two years later.
Crucially, this ruling on guilt is not the end of the process. Sanctions have not yet been determined, and under Premier League rules the possible outcomes range from a substantial fine to a points deduction or even expulsion, with the same independent panel expected to set the punishment.
Appeal Expected Before Any Sanction
Manchester City, who have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the case, are widely expected to appeal the finding. Club co-chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has said “nothing has changed” and reiterated confidence in the club’s position, while the process for setting any sanction only begins once an appeal is resolved or not pursued.
Reports also suggest other Premier League clubs are weighing legal action of their own, seeking compensation for potential sporting and commercial losses incurred while City were allegedly operating outside the financial rules during the period in question.
Related Predictions & Analysis
Manchester City remain top of the Premier League on the pitch after five matches, unbeaten and five points clear at the start of Matchweek 6 — this verdict is about events from nearly a decade ago, not the current title race. We’ll track every development in this case alongside our daily soccer predictions, our full Premier League predictions hub, and the Match Prediction Hub for the latest picks once Matchweek 6 fixtures arrive after the international break.
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