Manchester City face possible title revocation after financial verdict

Inside the Premier League headquarters, officials gathered as the verdict loomed, declaring Manchester City guilty of 114 charges of financial irregularities spanning 2009 to 2018, sparking fears of fines, title revocation and even possible expulsion from the league for the club and its supporters.

The sanction package, yet to be finalised, ranges from a monetary fine to the removal of trophies and, at the most severe end, expulsion from the Premier League. Among these, the stripping of titles earned the most attention in England. Per the Premier League's findings, the club breached multiple financial rules.

Seven trophies could be stripped

Seven honours won between 2011 and 2018 are now under threat. The Premier League titles from 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18 could be reassigned, with the 2011/12 crown famously secured by Sergio Agüero’s last‑minute strike against Queen’s Park Rangers. The impact would reverberate through the Premier League and the broader Liga landscape in Inglaterra.

The 2013/14 league would pass to Liverpool, while the 2017/18 title could revert to Manchester United. In the FA Cup, the 2011 triumph where City defeated Stoke City would be nullified, and three League Cup victories – 2013/14 (Sunderland), 2015/16 (Liverpool) and 2017/18 (Arsenal) – also face possible revocation.

Previous European sanction recalled

City is not unfamiliar with punitive action. In 2020, UEFA excluded the club from European competition for two seasons, a ban later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which left only a financial penalty in place.

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The club has announced it will appeal the current decision. A spokesperson told The Athletic that “the process is ongoing, with important aspects still pending resolution and subject to strict confidentiality,” echoing a statement issued in February 2023. The club’s official statement, released by CITY’s communications team, reiterated the appeal.

No definitive timetable has been set, but reports suggest a decision could emerge around Easter or during the European summer, with appeals potentially extending the resolution to the end of the year or beyond.

The Premier League’s case includes 50 alleged breaches of accurate financial reporting, 12 alleged breaches of player‑contract disclosure and eight alleged breaches concerning coach remuneration, covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18.

Among the financial details under scrutiny is the remuneration of former manager Roberto Mancini. Documents indicate a base salary of £1.45 million before tax and a consultancy fee of roughly £1.75 million per year paid through the Abu Dhabi United Group.

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A separate German report cited a €10 million fine imposed on the club for non‑cooperation with investigators, underscoring the breadth of the penalties being considered.

If the FA follows through, English football history could be rewritten, altering the legacy of the Premier League and reshaping the record books for clubs across the country.