“The Athletic” newspaper revealed, based on informed sources, that Manchester City was convicted of 114 out of 115 charges related to violating the financial regulations of the English Premier League, in a development that may pave the way for the imposition of unprecedented sanctions on the club.
These developments come as the culmination of an extensive investigation launched by the English Premier League in February 2023, years of controversy and investigations, part of which was based on leaks published by the German magazine “Der Spiegel” in 2018.
The accusations revolve around violations committed by the club between 2009 and 2018, and include failure to provide accurate financial information, partial or complete concealment of payments related to players and coaches, as well as violating the rules of financial fair play issued by the European Football Association, and the rules of profitability and sustainability of the English Premier League.
Although the conviction has been proven, final penalties have not yet been issued. However, the options presented range from imposing huge financial fines, or deducting points from the team’s balance, to retroactive penalties that may affect previous titles, in addition to the possibility of permanently excluding Manchester City from the English Premier League, amid expectations that the club will resort to appealing the decision.
In the first official comment, a club spokesman confirmed that the legal procedures are still ongoing and confidential, stressing the stability of the club’s position and its full respect for the independent litigation process since the start of the investigations.
It is noteworthy that Manchester City had previously engaged in a legal dispute with the European Union, during which it succeeded in 2020 in obtaining a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport to cancel the penalty of banning him from European participation for two years – as a result of some charges being time-barred and others not being proven – while merely imposing a financial fine on him due to lack of cooperation.
These judicial developments coincide with Manchester City topping the English Premier League standings for the 2026-2027 season, following a progression of five consecutive victories at the start of the competitions.
