Manchester City could lose hundreds of millions in prize money if found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, reacts during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Manchester, England
Pep Guardiola during his spell as Manchester City boss.(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
View 3 Images
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as many other Premier League clubs, could be entitled to millions in compensation if Manchester City are found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules.
Back in February 2023, the English top flight charged its then-champions with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations following a four-year investigation. Manchester City were accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and failing to cooperate with investigations spanning nine seasons (2009/10 to 2017/18).
They denied any wrongdoing, so the case was presented to an independent panel; after 12 weeks of deliberations, it concluded at the end of 2024. According to The Athletic on Friday, Manchester City were found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges.
The report claims that the sanctions have not yet been decided, and the club are expected to appeal. The Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, claimed the process still has 'a long way to run', and the club remains intent on proving its innocence.
FOLLOW OUR FB PAGE! Latest Arenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
An official statement from the club echoed the sentiment. It read: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023.
"The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."
Data specialists at OLBG have examined payments made by the Premier League to its competing clubs during the period when the charges against the club began; these payments, distributed equally among clubs, are divided into six categories: Equal Share, Facility Fees, Merit Payment, International Equal Share, International Merit Payment, and Central Commercial.
Potential Merit Payment compensation if Manchester City are found guilty.
Potential Merit Payment compensation if Manchester City are found guilty.
View 3 Images
Facility Fees and Merit Payments, however, are based on the number of televised matches and final league standings. OLBG discovered that if the Cityzens are found guilty and the case is upheld, they could owe domestic rivals well over £500m in Premier League prize money.
The report claims, based on the difference in merit payments, London clubs, in particular, could be due £164,021,246. Interestingly, West Ham could bank the greatest compensation package worth £28,089,124, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham taking home £21,290,352, £25,787,679, and £25,540,172, respectively.
Manchester City earned £556,883,928 in Merit Payments, more than any other team, so by removing them from the standings below, OLBG were able to estimate how much each club could be owed.
Merit Payments received by each club from the 2011/12 to 2025/26 seasons
Merit Payments received by each club from the 2011/12 to 2025/26 seasons
View 3 Images
As it stands, the Premier League has yet to comment on whether Manchester City have in fact breached any of its financial rules, and, if proven guilty, it remains unclear what the outcome will be, whether it's a fine, compensation to rivals, a transfer ban, a points deduction, or all of the above!
According to The Independent, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham previously 'preserved their rights to claim compensation' in relation to loss of earnings under Section W of the competition rules, essentially giving them the right to sue later down the line.