Vol. I ← Grant Willian Price: Free / Protest

The Independent Football Gazette

Football Phenom

Loot boxes, financial rules, and the money behind the modern game.

Status as of October 14, 2026: City is appealing the verdict. Sanctions have not been decided.

115 Charges brought in February 2023
114 Charges City was found guilty of
9 Seasons covered, 2009 to 2018

The 115: City's financial case

In February 2023 the Premier League charged Manchester City with 115 breaches of its rules, covering nine seasons from 2009 to 2018. An independent commission heard the case over about ten weeks, from September to December 2024.

The verdict

In late September 2026 the Premier League confirmed that the commission found City guilty of all 80 financial charges and 34 of the 35 charges for failing to cooperate with the investigation. That is 114 of 115.

What the league says happened

The Premier League says City used sham sponsorship contracts, in which sponsors paid less than the contracts stated and the club's owners covered the difference. The league says this inflated revenue and reduced costs by about £900 million in total.

City's response

City says it is innocent, points to what it calls irrefutable evidence, and has appealed.

What happens next

Sanctions will be decided in a separate hearing. If the verdict holds on appeal, the punishment is expected in early 2027. Until then, City keeps playing.