Manchester City faces unprecedented fine after decade-long scandal

In a packed meeting room of the Premier League, while the lights flickered over the long tables, the independent commission announced the verdict on 29 September 2026. Manchester City was found guilty on all charges of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. The historic financial scandal is shaking England and involves more than £900 million of artificially inflated revenue.

The core of the allegations spans from the 2009/10 season to 2017/18 and includes alleged “sham contracts” with sponsors that supposedly increased revenue and reduced costs. Through these practices, the club's financial situation was concealed from auditors and football associations. The allegations were first made public in 2018 by Der Spiegel and Football Leaks.

UEFA launched an investigation in March 2019, which in 2020 resulted in a two‑year ban from European competitions and a fine of €30 million. The International Sports Court lifted the ban in July of the same year, because the allegations were not sufficiently substantiated. The Premier League brought 115 charges in 2023, heard the case from September to December 2024, and delivered its verdict in September 2026.

Possible sanctions

The commission is now considering a wide range of penalties: from a fine to point deductions and even a possible exclusion from the Premier League. Additionally, English clubs could file compensation claims for missed international qualifications. Such an outcome would be unprecedented in the history of the Premier League.

“This is a conspiracy theory of the Premier League,” Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano said in a statement. He rejected the allegations and described the decision as legally flawed.

Khaldoon al‑Mubarak, club chief of Manchester City, spoke of a targeted attack: “There are still many who want to undermine the rise of our club.” He saw the league as an opponent that had set its sights on the club.

League reactions

League chief Richard Masters called the verdict the “most significant” decision in the history of the Premier League. He emphasized that there is no comparable case. The Everton case from the 2023/24 season, where point deductions were imposed for breaches of the Profitability‑and‑Sustainability‑Rules, was portrayed as only partially comparable.

Manchester City can lodge an appeal against the verdict by Friday; an independent appeal board will decide on it. In parallel, a confidential hearing will discuss the exact level of the sanctions, with the Premier League seeking a swift resolution.