Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of almost all of the 115 charges levelled against them by the Premier League over alleged breaches of their financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The seismic ruling by an independent commission has not yet been made public, but was first reported on Friday by The Athletic, who said that City had been found guilty of all but one charge 22 months after the 12-week hearing in front of a three-person panel concluded and three-and-a-half years since they were first charged following a four-year investigation.
City - who strongly deny all the charges against them - are expected to appeal the reported verdict. The club said in a statement on Friday that the confidential process remains “ongoing”, with “significant elements to be completed”. It is said that no decision has yet been made on potential sanctions, with a range of options believed to be possible, including a fine, points deduction, transfer ban or even the stripping of titles and trophies or expulsion from the Premier League, who have not commented on the situation at this stage.
