An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules over nearly a decade and failing to co-operate with a subsequent four-year investigation. The panel judged the club guilty of 114 of 115 charges laid by the league in 2023, including disguising payments from its parent company as sponsorship revenues and shifting costs off the balance sheet. The club has maintained its innocence and is expected to appeal any adverse decision. Khaldoon al-Mubarak, City’s chair, stated the process remains ongoing and confidence in proving innocence is unchanged.

Potential punishments include unlimited fines, points deductions, expulsion, and compensation for other clubs. City has 14 days to appeal, with legal experts noting narrow grounds for success. Previous appeals, such as the Uefa case in 2020, saw the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduce sanctions.

Other clubs may also seek compensation if they lost titles or European qualifications due to City’s actions.