Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges, according to journalist David Ornstein.
The verdict, which covers alleged breaches spanning 2009 to 2018, leaves the club facing potential sanctions that could reshape English football’s current hierarchy. City, who sit top of the Premier League under new manager Enzo Maresca, have won every match this season including a 1-0 victory at Manchester United earlier this month.
A Manchester City spokesperson said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
The charges include failing to provide accurate financial information, concealing details of payments to players and coaches, and breaching both UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Ornstein reported that City were cleared on just one of the 115 counts.
Potential punishments remain unconfirmed but could range from reprimands and fines to points deductions or even expulsion from the Premier League. The club are expected to appeal any decision.
Much of City’s transformation into a domestic and European powerhouse traces back to the 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, whose billions in investment fueled the club’s rise. Between 2009 and 2018, the period covered by the charges, City won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and three League Cups.
Legendary coach Pep Guardiola was hired in 2016 and departed at the end of last season, leaving Maresca to take over a squad that had been pipped to the 2025/26 Premier League title by Arsenal. City have consistently denied all allegations against them throughout the eight-year investigation.
The timeline of charges stems from a nine-year period beginning in 2009, when the club first came under scrutiny for financial fair play violations. The Premier League’s case examined whether City properly disclosed payments and maintained accurate records during an era of rapid spending and trophy accumulation that fundamentally altered the competitive landscape of English football.
City’s appeal prospects and the final determination of sanctions remain central questions as the process continues, with the club maintaining its stance that the regulatory body has not met standards of impartiality.