BBC Sport analyses Manchester City's dominance during 2009-10 to 2017-18, a period when the club breached Premier League financial rules. The commission found City conducted a "concerted campaign to falsify" accounts, adding £830m falsely to their books. Without this financial power, their transfer spending would have been drastically reduced, potentially preventing signings of key players like Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure, and Kevin de Bruyne.

The article questions whether trophies won during this era should be viewed as legitimate, drawing a comparison to fictional narratives revealed as dreams. City have until Friday to appeal the verdict; if unsuccessful, sanctions may follow, though it remains unclear if past results will be altered. Fans now face uncertainty about the legitimacy of current competitions, future transfers, and the club’s Premier League status.

The case raises broader concerns about trust in football’s integrity and the potential for similar undetected rule-breaking elsewhere.