Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League, marking a dramatic development in the league’s long-running case against the club.

The verdict was reported by The Athletic on September 25, 2026, with sanctions still to be determined and Manchester City expected to appeal.

Also read: Maresca names Dias, Haaland among Man City captains

The case concerns alleged breaches dating from 2009 to 2018 and covers several areas of the Premier League’s financial regulations, including the provision of accurate financial information, payments to players and coaches, and compliance with financial rules.

Manchester City have consistently denied the allegations and maintain that the independent process should consider the evidence supporting the club’s position.

A Manchester City spokesperson told The Athletic that the process remains ongoing and that significant elements are still to be completed.

“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,” the spokesperson said.

The reported decision follows an extensive investigation that began after German publication Der Spiegel released leaked financial documents in November 2018.

The Premier League subsequently investigated the club before formally bringing the 115 charges in February 2023.

The allegations include claims that Manchester City failed to provide accurate financial information, breached rules relating to player and manager payments and violated financial regulations concerning profitability and sustainability.

An independent commission heard the case during a 12-week hearing held between September and December 2024.

The proceedings were conducted behind closed doors, with the panel considering the evidence before reaching its reported verdict.

Thefinancial charges are separate from the club’s previous dispute with UEFA, although both cases have roots in the leaked documents published in 2018.

In 2020, UEFA imposed a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine on Manchester City following its own investigation.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned the European competition ban, ruling that some alleged breaches had not been established or were time-barred. City were nevertheless fined £8.8 million for failing to co-operate with UEFA’s investigation.

The Premier League case carries potentially significant consequences, although no punishment has been announced.

Under the league’s rules, possible sanctions can range from a reprimand or financial penalty to a points deduction and, in the most serious circumstances, expulsion from the Premier League.

Any punishment would still be subject to the relevant legal and appeal processes.

Manchester City’s reported verdict arrives while the club remains a major force in English football.

Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group completed its takeover in 2008, Manchester City have won multiple Premier League titles and major domestic and European honours.

The club’s achievements have continued during the lengthy proceedings.

Manchester City began the 2026/27 Premier League season with five victories from five matches and were sitting top of the table when the reported verdict emerged.

The timing also adds a new layer to an already closely watched period at the Etihad Stadium.

The club spent heavily during the latest summer transfer window and appointed Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola’s departure after a decade in charge.

For now, the reported finding establishes liability on 114 of the 115 charges, but it does not constitute the final outcome of the case.

Manchester City are expected to challenge the decision, meaning the legal process could continue for some time.

Also read: Maresca names Dias, Haaland among Man City captains

The next significant stage will therefore be the determination of sanctions and any subsequent appeal, with the outcome potentially having major implications for the club and the wider Premier League.