General view inside the stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase MD2 match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium.
General view inside the stadium ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 league phase MD2 match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium.
Hello and welcome to the Manchester Evening Newslive blog, bringing you all of the latest news surrounding the Man City charges on Friday, 16 October.
It's a matter of waiting as the appeal process against the guilty verdict handed to Man City on 114 charges of breaches of Premier League financial rules is ongoing. A separate hearing with a new independent panel will take place.
It comes after the original three-person panel delivered the guilty verdict. It was confirmed that they found that City had 'artificially inflated' their revenue by around £900 million though 'sham' sponsorship deals between 2009 and 2018.
If City are unsuccessful with their appeal and the verdict is upheld, then they could face serious punishment which could include a big point deduction, stripping of titles or even expulsion from the Premier League. There has been a lot of debate over what sort of punishment the club should be given.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) could also step in and force the owners to sell the club.
Stay here for all of the latest throughout the day...
Key Events
Players 'will have conversations'
The Manchester City players will be having 'conversations' with their agents about the situation at the club, that is according to former City midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
Speaking before City's Champions League clash on TNT Sports, he said:
"Every single player will be having conversations with their teams. But until the final verdict is in, you wouldn't really know."These players have a very short career. These players are super affected, as well, by the situation, depending on what happens, so it's normal to have that conversation."
He added:
"The players will just want to play, and the people above will sort that other stuff out. It's with all the lawyers and with all the execs.
"The players are the ones who generate all the attention. Football is the most important thing. All that other stuff needs to get sorted."
Former Man United man speaks out
Former Manchester United man Ander Herrera has called for Man City to be stripped on their titles should the guilty verdict on the charges be upheld.
The Spaniard was part of the 2018 United squad who finished runners-up to City in the Premier League title race.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents Podcast, he said:
"I don't know if we (United) deserve the trophy, but for sure, they don't deserve to win it."They cannot be blind in this. If I was a Manchester City player, I would be angry with my owners."I would be angry with my board, you know, because they have put all that I have done during these years in doubt. You know what I mean?"
Ander Herrera.
Ander Herrera.(Image: Photo by Leonardo Fernandez - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
UEFA 'punishment' claim
There has been a big claim from one journalist over a potential punishment on the cards for City if they are unsuccessful with their appeal.
South American journalist Cesar Augusto Londono claims that UEFA are ready to 'expell' City from European competitions for '7-10 years'.
Writing on X, he said: "UEFA is reportedly close to announcing that, if Manchester City is found guilty following its appeal, it will be expelled from all European competitions for a period of 7 to 10 years. Under that measure, it would be unable to participate in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. The club was found guilty of 115 financial violations in the first instance."
Morning catch-up
I think it's time to grab a drink and have a quick catch-up on some of the things that you may have missed from the last 24 hours or so...
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Sacked manager speaks out
Former Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal beleives that missing out to Man City on the Champions League in 2016 was the 'deciding factor' in him being sacked.
City pipped their rivals to a fourth place finish on goal difference, with Van Gaal being replaced by Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford the following summer.
Speaking to the Athletic, Van Gaal said:
“For me, at the time, that (missing out on the Champions League in 2016) was probably the deciding factor in my dismissal from Manchester United and all the consequences and suffering this entailed.”
He added:
“I cannot turn back history now. Not even the English Football Association can (do that).”
The UK government will back Man City owners being forced to sell the club if the guilty verdict is upheld on appeal.
When the verdict first came to light, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he would be 'really concerned' of the owners were forced out.
But it seems that there has now been a change of heart by senior government officials.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, culture secretary Lisa Nandy said:
“I want to be crystal clear that, whilst we are really grateful to investors who come from all over the world to invest in our clubs and help to ensure their viability and their success, they are custodians, both of their clubs and of the game.“They have a responsibility to play by the rules and uphold the rules.”
She added:
“If the allegations are upheld [at appeal], the Independent Football Regulator can intervene. He can investigate the ownership and, at its most extreme, he can compel the owners if he believes they're not fit [to run] the club.“We’re not there yet. It's absolutely right that Manchester City get the right to defend themselves and they do strongly refute the allegations. But in the event that they do not believe that a club is in safe hands, we’ve fought tooth and nail to give the Independent Regulator the power.”
Good morning
Hello and welcome to today's live blog, bringing you all of the latest surrounding the Man City charges.
We'll bring you all of the latest news throughout the day.
So let's get started...