Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, according to a report.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that Manchester City have been found guilty on almost all of the charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, with sources briefed on the matter claiming the guilty verdict related to all but one of the 115 charges.
Ornstein adds that City are expected to appeal, and that a City spokesperson told The Athletic: “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 the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
Ornstein’s report also clarifies that the sanctions for City’s 114 breaches, if confirmed, have not yet been decided. All possibilities reportedly remain on the table.
In the Premier League’s initial statement back in 2023, they outlined the rules that had allegedly been breached by City:
- “Provision…in the utmost good faith, of accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position, in particular with respect to its revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs”
- The requirement of a Premier League club “to include full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts with its manager” and “full details of player remuneration in its relevant contracts with its players”
- The requirement of a Premier League club “to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations”
- The requirement to adhere to rules on “profitability and sustainability”
- The requirement to “cooperate with, and assist, the Premier League in its investigations, including by providing documents and information to the Premier League in the utmost good faith”
The dates of said alleged breaches range from 2009/10 to 2022/23.
If City’s appeal fails, and if they are ultimately found guilty of at least 114 of the 115 charges, then the expectation would be for serious sporting sanctions.
This case has easily surpassed any other in terms of the number of charges and the scope of the accusations, so it would only make sense for City to receive a similarly unprecedented punishment.
Realistically, expulsion from the football league is the only thing that makes sense, but whether that will actually happen is another matter. And with City still to appeal, there’s always the possibility the eventual verdict on appeal is significantly less emphatic.
But for all the fans who had to watch their team compete with the alleged cheats from 2009 to 2023, there’s undoubtedly some satisfaction to take from this reported initial verdict.
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