Manchester City await sanctions after reported verdict on 115 financial charges

Manchester City is awaiting the publication of a written judgment after reports that an independent commission has found the club guilty of most of the 115 financial-rule charges brought by the Premier League. BBC Sport said it had learned a decision had been reached, following a report by the Athletic that City had been found guilty on almost all of the charges. The verdict and any punishment have not yet been formally published, and the disciplinary process remains ongoing.

The charges were referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. They concern alleged failures to provide accurate financial information, disclose player and manager payments, comply with Uefa rules, meet Premier League profit and sustainability requirements, and cooperate with the league’s investigation. The alleged breaches cover the period from 2009-10 to 2017-18, while the alleged failures to cooperate run from December 2018 to February 2023.

City has consistently denied wrongdoing and said it would appeal if found guilty. The case followed allegations published by Der Spiegel from leaked documents. Those allegations included claims that sponsorship revenue had been inflated and that payments connected to former manager Roberto Mancini and players had not been fully reflected in the club’s accounts.

City rejected the claims and said the leaked emails had been obtained illegally in an attempt to damage its reputation. The potential consequences remain undecided. The commission could impose a points deduction, financial penalties, or both, with measures either immediate or suspended.

A sufficiently severe points penalty could effectively relegate City, while direct removal from the Premier League would mean losing membership and being demoted to a lower division. The Premier League declined to comment when approached, according to the supplied report. City expressed frustration that news of the decision had leaked, saying the process remained subject to confidentiality and that significant elements were still to be completed.

The written judgment is expected to identify the panel and explain its findings. City’s possible appeal means the dispute could continue even after the sanctions are announced.