Man City's Premier League case: what the verdict found and what happens next
Manchester City were found guilty of breaking Premier League financial rules for nearly a decade. Where the appeal and the sanctions stand now.
The essentials: On September 29, 2026, an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules over nine seasons, from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club denies wrongdoing and lodged an appeal on October 1. No punishment has been set yet, and the possible sanctions range from a fine to expulsion from the league.
What did the commission find?
The commission upheld every charge relating to serious breaches of the league’s financial rules. It also upheld most of the charges that City had failed to cooperate with the investigation between 2018 and 2023, according to the Associated Press.
The Premier League said City used “sham” commercial deals with sponsors to inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than £900 million. The Independent reports that the commission found City’s income had been overstated by more than £830 million over eight seasons. According to the AP, the findings also include payments hidden to supplement manager and player salaries, and accounts that did not give a true picture of the club’s finances.
City won several Premier League titles during the period covered by the case.
How did the case unfold?
| Date | Step |
|---|---|
| December 2018 | Premier League opens its investigation |
| February 2023 | Charges announced (115 in total) |
| Autumn 2024 | Hearing before the independent commission |
| September 29, 2026 | Verdict published |
| October 1, 2026 | City lodges its appeal |
The verdict took 21 months after the hearing. The commission called the delay “regrettable” and cited 7,000 pages of evidence, according to The Independent.
What does Manchester City say?
The club said it was “disappointed and surprised” and that it is “innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League”. It said the decision contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact”. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the club’s “confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began”.
How does the appeal work?
The appeal goes to a private appeal board. “An appeal can only assess whether the initial panel made any procedural or legal errors,” wrote Miguel Delaney, chief football writer at The Independent. New evidence generally cannot be introduced. City intends to challenge the facts, the law, the procedure and the independence of the panel.
According to The Independent, the appeal must be concluded within 12 weeks of being lodged, which points to around Christmas. The board then has 30 days after the final day of the hearing to rule, so a decision is expected between January and March 2027.
What punishment could City face?
The original commission will decide the sanctions in a separate process with no official deadline. They could come before or after the appeal ruling. Under the Premier League handbook, The Independent lists the options:
- an unlimited fine;
- a transfer ban;
- a points deduction;
- the stripping of titles won during the period;
- expulsion from the league, which would require a vote by at least 15 of the 20 clubs.
Rival clubs are also expected to seek compensation in the courts, the AP reports. Until the appeal and the sanctions are settled, the outcome of nearly a decade of Premier League seasons remains in question.
This article was prepared with the help of AI tools from the sources listed above, then reviewed by our editors before publication. Read our editorial policy
