A verdict over Premier League charges against Manchester City is finally set to be delivered after a bombshell report said the club have been “found guilty on almost all of the charges”.
The Athletic reported on Friday that the former champions have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules, in what would be a seminal moment for the richest football league in the world.
The landmark ruling follows one of the most significant court cases in the history of sport, with the verdict also having major repercussions for City’s rivals. The Premier League have declined to comment, however.
City, currently top of the Premier League after five games, were charged with over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules in February 2023, with the club always denying any wrongdoing throughout the process.
An independent commission was appointed following a four-year investigation. Sanctions have not yet been decided, according to The Athletic, and City are expected to appeal. The club said the Premier League process “remains ongoing”.
Follow all the latest news, reaction and analysis to one of the most important moments in the Premier League’s history:
Man City charges verdict
- Premier League set to deliver bombshell Man City charges verdict
- Man City ‘found guilty of almost all Premier League charges’ - report
- No sanctions have been announced and City are expected to appeal
- Hearing into Man City’s charges ended in December 2024 with verdict delayed
Enzo Maresca's cryptic Instagram post amid Man City verdict
15:23 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca posted “time to breathe, time to analyse, time to learn” on his Instagram account, just shortly before The Athletic reported that City had been found guilty of almost all of the Premier League’s charges.
Hmmm.
What has Enzo Maresca said on Man City's charges?
15:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola in the summer, said before the start of the season that he had “no concerns” over the Premier League charges.
Maresca was previously Guardiola’s assistant and was at the club in February 2023 when they were charged by the Premier League with breaking their financial rules.
“The only thing I can say is three years ago, the treble season, I was here, and it was the same words about this,” Maresca said in July.
“In three years, it's still the same. Nothing has happened. I don't have any concerns, personally."
Maresca has won his first five games of the Premier League season after signing a three-year contract.
No sanctions have been announced and Man City are expected to appeal
15:14 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City insist the process “remains ongoing”.
The Premier League have not yet announced sanctions, but City are expected to appeal the long-awaited verdict after they were found “guilty on almost all of the charges”.
Possible sanctions include fines, points deductions, and even expulsion from the Premier League.
Those sanctions could be applied now, or retrospectively. That could mean City are stripped of titles and trophies.
City insisted in February 2023 that they were “surprised” by the charges and said there was evidence to prove their innocence.
How did we get here?
15:07 , Jamie Braidwood
The landmark ruling follows one of the most significant court cases in the history of sport. City were charged with over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
The Premier League said the alleged breaches took place between 2009 and 2018, and related to providing accurate financial information and failing to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR). Other charges included an accusation of failing to co-operate with the Premier League’s investigation, which was prompted by the Football Leaks revelations.
City have been England’s most successful team since the club’s fortunes were transformed by Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008. The club won the Premier League three times between 2009 and 2018, a period in which the club also won one FA Cup and three League Cups.
Under former manager Pep Guardiola, City won the Premier League in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, including an unprecedented run of four in a row. In 2023, the club also won the Champions League for the first time, completing a historic ‘Treble’ of major prizes.
City had denied any wrongdoing throughout the process and announced their “surprise” when they were referred to an independent commission.
'Amazement and relief' at Premier League's verdict
15:02 , Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer
From canvassing views around football, there is amazement - and some relief - that the level of guilt is so strong.
There are still a lot of uncertainties, not least about the sanctions and the response but this is a seismic day in English football history.
Man City ‘found guilty of almost all Premier League charges’
15:00 , Jamie Braidwood
The Athletic’s David Ornstein has reported that Manchester City “have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges”.
We await confirmation of this from the Premier League.
Such an overwhelming verdict would represent victory for the Premier League, who charged City in February 2023.
Why was verdict delayed?
14:58 , Jamie Braidwood
The independent hearing into Man City's charges concluded in December 2024, yet the nature of the case was described as “hugely complex," leading to a lengthy delay in the verdict.
The timeframe between the start of the hearing and the judgement has stretched to almost three years.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters admitted to Sky Sports before the 2025/26 season that he had grown frustrated with the situation.
"It's an independent judiciary essentially," he said. “They are then in charge of the process and its timings. They hear the case, they decide the outcome and we have no influence over it or its timing.
“My frustration is irrelevant really, I just have to wait. Legal processes rarely take less time than you anticipated. But we have to be patient.”
What were Man City's 115 Premier League charges?
14:57 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester City's charges concerning breaking financial fair play rules surround a nine-year period, from 2009 to 2018.
They were also charged with failing to co-operate with Premier League investigations concerning the club's finances.
Initially charged in 2023, the club was accused of:
- Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information (2009-2018): 54
- Failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation (2009-2018): 14
- Failure to comply with UEFA's regulations, including Financial Fair Play Regulations: 5
- Breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability regulations (2015-2018): 7
- Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations (2018-2023): 35
Man City's statement on Premier League verdict
14:56 , Jamie Braidwood
A Manchester City spokesperson said the Premier League process remains “ongoing”.
“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.”
We await an official statement from the Premier League
14:53 , Jamie Braidwood
The Premier League have yet to announce the verdict on the Manchester City charges, but it sounds as if that could be coming very soon.
Hello and welcome
14:51 , Jamie Braidwood
A verdict over Premier League charges against Manchester City is finally set to be delivered after a bombshell report said the club have been “guilty on almost all of the charges”.
The Athletic reported on Friday that former champions have been found guilty of breaking the Premier League’s financial rules in a seminal moment for the richest football league in the world.
Follow for all the updates on an extraordinary story.
