Manchester City have been found guilty of almost all the financial regulation charges brought against the club by the Premier League, according to sources familiar with the case.
The club was found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges, although the sanctions to be imposed have yet to be determined. City are expected to appeal the findings.
The Premier League brought the case against City in February 2023 following a lengthy investigation into alleged breaches covering the period from 2009 to 2018.
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A Manchester City spokesperson said the Premier League process was still ongoing and that significant elements of the case remained unresolved.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,” the spokesperson said.
The club maintained that its position remained unchanged from its February 2023 statement, when it expressed confidence in the independent commission handling the case.
City had previously said they were surprised by the charges and welcomed an independent review of the evidence, maintaining that the material available supported the club’s position.
How the case began
The Premier League investigation followed the publication of leaked financial documents by German newspaper Der Spiegel in November 2018.
City were subsequently accused of failing to provide accurate financial information concerning the club’s revenues, payments to players and coaches, as well as alleged breaches of UEFA financial fair play regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
The club has consistently denied the allegations.
The case concerns a period during which City established themselves as one of English football’s most successful clubs following Sheikh Mansour’s takeover in 2008.
Since then, City have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and the Champions League. Six of those major honours were secured after the Premier League charges were brought.
The club has previously faced financial regulation proceedings at European level.
In February 2020, UEFA imposed a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine following its own investigation linked to the Der Spiegel revelations.
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the European competition ban five months later, ruling that the alleged financial fair play violations had either not been established or were time-barred under UEFA regulations.
City were nevertheless found to have failed to cooperate adequately with UEFA’s investigation. CAS described the breach as serious and imposed an £8.8 million fine.
Lengthy Premier League process
The Premier League’s handling of the case has attracted considerable attention because of the length of time it has taken.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has faced repeated questions about the proceedings since the charges were announced.
In January 2024, Masters told a UK Parliament select committee that a hearing date had been set but declined to disclose when it would take place.
Last month, Masters acknowledged that the process had taken longer than expected but said allowing it to continue was the only available course.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also criticised aspects of the league’s financial regulations in June 2024, calling for a more balanced approach to regulation.
The club separately reached an agreement with the Premier League in September 2025 following a dispute over the league’s associated party transaction rules.
Possible sanctions
The Premier League’s Rule W.51 sets out a broad range of sanctions that could be imposed following findings of financial breaches.
Possible penalties include a reprimand, financial penalties, points deductions and, in the most severe circumstances, expulsion from the Premier League.
A points deduction could potentially be imposed in the future or applied retrospectively, which could raise questions over the status of previous league titles.
Rule W.51.7 also allows the disciplinary panel to combine different sanctions or impose another penalty it considers appropriate.
Any punishment, however, would have to be proportionate to the breaches established. City are expected to challenge the findings and any sanctions through the appeal process.
Despite the case hanging over the club, City have continued to compete at the highest level.
The club began the 2026-27 Premier League season with five consecutive victories under new manager Enzo Maresca and were sitting top of the table.
City also spent heavily during the summer transfer window, including £125 million on Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez in a British record-equalling transfer.
