Need to know
Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of their 115 charges over spending breaches, with fans asking what happens next for the Premier League titans
Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after a missed chance on goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium
Man City have been found guilty on 114 of their 115 charges for alleged spending breaches(Image: Getty Images)
All you need to know about possible Man City punishments:
Nature of the charges: Manchester City faced 115 charges from the Premier League primarily concerning the alleged failure to provide accurate financial information and the masking of player and manager compensation between 2009 and 2018. The club is also accused of breaching UEFA's financial fair play rules and failing to cooperate with the subsequent investigations, with The Athletic reporting they've been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges.
Investigation timeline: The Premier League originally charged the club in February 2023 following a comprehensive four-year investigation into their financial practices. A private 12-week hearing took place in late 2024, but an independent commission has been reviewing the immense volume of evidence since then to reach a final verdict, though City can still lodge an appeal and deny any wrongdoing.
Points deductions (or demotion): The most likely sporting sanction would be a severe, unprecedented points deduction. Finance experts have speculated this penalty could range anywhere from 40 to 60 points given the nine-year period the charges cover, with automatic demotion even mooted as a possibility.
Stripping of trophies: There is ongoing speculation about whether the Premier League could retroactively strip City of the three league titles they won during the period in question if points deductions are applied retrospectively. While extreme and lacking clear precedent, this remains a theoretical possibility if the commission decides financial irregularities directly compromised the sporting integrity of those seasons.
Financial penalties: Alongside any sporting sanctions, the independent commission could impose massive monetary fines to heavily penalise the club for the alleged breaches. Furthermore, other Premier League clubs might potentially seek compensation through arbitration if they believe the irregularities caused them direct financial or sporting losses.
Exclusion from competitions: The ultimate "nuclear option" involves outright expulsion from the Premier League, which would force the club to seek entry into the English Football League structure. While considered a less likely extreme scenario, relegation remains on the table either as a direct punishment or as the inevitable result of a massive points deduction.
Open rules: The potential punishments are outlined in rule W.51 of the Premier League’s handbook. The panel could combine any number of them, and further sanctions deemed appropriate could be applied.