Chesterfield v Manchester City U21 - Vertu Trophy
CHESTERFIELD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Finlay Gorman of Manchester City U21 during the Vertu Trophy match between Chesterfield and Manchester City U21 at SMH Group Stadium on September 15, 2026 in Chesterfield, England. (Photo by Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
Leeds United’s Premier League rivals Manchester City could be hit with an unprecedented punishment as they look likely to be found guilty on their notable ‘114 charges’.
Leeds’ demise in the Premier League over two decades ago was due to overspending and the lack of guardrails in place to stop clubs from going completely under if revenue didn’t match with spending.
Not long after our drop out of the top flight, Manchester City rose to power thanks to a state-funded takeover from Sheikh Mansour in 2008. And, despite incredible success over a sustained period ever since, it’s all tainted.
Manchester City facing monumental punishments after 114 charges bombshell last week
Last week, David Ornstein dropped the huge news that Man City are expecting to be hit with punishment on the long-running charges over historic financial breaches between 2009 and 2018.
Of course, within that time period, Man City ended their trophy drought and became England’s dominant force. Since the takeover, the Etihad club have won 20-plus major honours.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/Muxqp4beK9
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) September 25, 2026
Initially in 2023, Man City were handed 115 charges, which has now been ratified by an independent commission. This report states that 114 of them have stuck.
In terms of punishment, the case is of course unprecedented. It opens a huge can of worms for the Premier League and other relevant governing bodies.
A key argument for those seeking justice is the level of dominance that has happened thanks to ‘cheating’. It’s expected, then, that the Manchester club will see the book thrown at them, even with Man City’s expected appeal.
Leeds United should claim back “generational” Man City talent amid 114 case
There’s a very real prospect that City will find themselves relegated. If not that, perhaps at least stripped of assets built on years of flagrant rule-breaking.
Should City find themselves plummetting down the football ladder as punishment, their squad will be ripped apart. So, Premier League rivals might be wondering how they can get revenge for years of the same fate. Man City monopolised the league through illegal means and took star players off so many clubs.
It’s a stacked first team squad under Enzo Maresca. So, there aren’t many that I could see being attainable for Leeds. But in this thought experiment, there’s a certain player who we could offer a better pathway to Premier League football, ironically.
Months after Man City were found in breach in 2023, they agreed a then-record £5million deal to snatch teen talent Finlay Gorman from Thorp Arch. The “generational” attacking midfielder is one of countless poached by Man City’s academy system. Leeds were left powerless once Gorman’s head had turned, not old enough at the time to sign professional terms at 15.
Finlay Gorman hit a superb hat-trick for @ManCity to help them through to the #FAYouthCup semi-finals 🎩 pic.twitter.com/I49Z80FOqK
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 1, 2025
It’s understandable from Gorman’s perspective, developing in one of the most efficient youth setups in the world. But, the tables have turned suddenly. There’s a world very soon where Leeds can offer Gorman a better chance of a Premier League debut.
He’s 18 now, and there’s no chance he gets regular opportunities at the Etihad, especially with this hanging overhead.