The Man City 115 charges verdict has finally arrived, and it is close to the worst outcome the club could have feared. An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against them for breaching the league’s financial rules, according to reports first carried by The Athletic’s David Ornstein on Thursday and since backed by BBC Sport and Reuters sources.
The ruling has not yet been published by the Premier League, which declined to comment, and no punishment has been decided. City are expected to appeal.
What the 115 charges covered
The Premier League charged City in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The allegations span nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18, and fall into five broad areas:
- failing to provide accurate financial information, including revenue from sponsorship deals;
- failing to fully disclose payments to managers and players;
- breaching UEFA’s financial fair play regulations;
- breaching the Premier League’s own profitability and sustainability rules;
- failing to cooperate with the league’s investigation between 2018 and 2023.
A three-person commission heard the case at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre, with hearings starting in September 2024 and closing in December 2024. The wait for a decision has run for almost two years since. The case is separate from City’s dispute over Associated Party Transaction rules, which the club and the league settled in September 2025.
Man City’s response to the verdict
City have always denied wrongdoing. In a statement, the club said the Premier League process “remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed,” and that its position was unchanged from its February 2023 statement. The club added that it had respected due process for eight years on the basis that the league would act as an independent and fair-minded regulator.
What happens next: possible sanctions for City
Under Premier League rule W.51, a commission can impose anything from a reprimand or a fine to a points deduction or even expulsion from the league. Pundits and rival fans have speculated about a heavy points penalty for years, but until a sanction is set and any appeal is heard, nothing about the table changes.
The timing is awkward for the Premier League. City sit top of the table under Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola in the summer. Guardiola, who left in May after ten years and 17 major trophies, led the club through the entire investigation. Maresca’s side have started the season in strong form, including a 5-3 win over Sunderland.
The key questions now are how severe the punishment will be, how long an appeal takes, and whether any sanction lands this season or next. NetSports 247 will update this story when the Premier League publishes the full written reasons.
