The independent commission has reached its verdict in the Manchester City charges, finding the club guilty on almost all of them. The commission concluded that City used "sham contracts" to disguise more than £800 million in funding over nine years from the Abu Dhabi United Group and the club's owners.
City responded by saying they were "disappointed and surprised" by the commission's findings. The club has confirmed it will appeal the decision, meaning the case is far from over and further legal proceedings are expected.
In this episode of Football on Trial, host Rick Edwards is joined by The Observer's Rory Smith and Xavier Greenwood to make sense of the verdict and its repercussions. The discussion examines what the findings mean for the club, the wider sport, and the questions raised about how the funding was structured.
Football on Trial is a Tortoise Media and Observer production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live. The episode aired on 20 October 2026 and runs for 28 minutes.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing