Kieran Maguire warns further probes could deepen Man City woes

In a cramped newsroom at Southampton Solent University, final‑year Sports Journalism student Jake Pearce pores over a Reuters photograph captioned Action Images via Carl Recine, while the city’s football world reels from Manchester City’s recent conviction on 115 Premier League financial‑fair‑play charges.

Student journalist wins top award

Jake Pearce, a final‑year Sports Journalism student at Southampton Solent University, recently secured the Football Writers Association Male Student Football Writer of the Year award. The accolade followed his feature with former Crystal Palace player Danny Butterfield. In the piece he was asked to "Show me the facts", to "Explain it like I’m 5" and to "Give me a lighthearted recap".

Manchester City face 115 FFP breaches

Manchester City have been found guilty of 115 charges of breaching the Premier League’s financial‑fair‑play (FFP) rules, spanning the period from 2009 to 2018. The independent commission reported that only £11 million of the £145.73 million recorded sponsorship fees were actually paid by Abu Dhabi sponsors in 2017‑18. City’s commercial revenue fell by £5 million in 2018‑19 before rising to £309.5 million in 2021‑22 – a 33 percent increase on the 2017‑18 figure.

Potential fallout and further probes

City initially declined to comment and would not confirm whether they had been notified of any verdict before the official announcement, but they have confirmed an intention to appeal. Rival clubs are already assessing the financial losses they may have suffered while City dominated the league, and some ex‑players and managers claim they were denied trophies they deserved.

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Finance professor Kieran Maguire, who teaches football finance at the University of Liverpool, told Telegraph Sport: "Given that City’s commercial revenues did not decline in the period immediately after 2018, there will be a lot of focus on whether those revenues are genuine or a sham and could result in further Premier League investigations." He added that the drop in sponsorship income after 2018‑19 suggests the club may have stopped inflating figures.

Experts warn that any punishment will be delayed until the appeal is heard, but the nine‑year span of the breaches could lead to a hefty sanction. Clubs are seeking compensation for the financial advantage they lost, and while it is unlikely that City’s titles will be reassigned, the possibility has not been ruled out.

If further investigations extend beyond 2018, City could see the majority of their successes since then – multiple Premier League crowns, FA Cup, League Cup and even a Champions League triumph – called into question. With the Premier League set to start next month, key information on the case has emerged, intensifying the scrutiny.

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The saga underscores the growing demand for transparency in football finance, as government officials push for a thorough inquiry to ensure no stone is left unturned. The outcome could reshape how clubs manage commercial revenue and sponsorship deals across the sport.