Premier League threatens Manchester City with fines and expulsion

On Friday, September 25, the Premier League was shaken when, according to the British newspaper The Athletic, Manchester City was found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against it for alleged financial breaches in the English competition.

Charges and guilt

The British outlet indicates that the Citizens, who repeatedly denied any breach during the negotiation phase, were found guilty of practically all cases, amounting to a total of 115 suspected irregularities. The official statement has not yet detailed the sanctions that could be imposed.

According to the published information, the lack of a resolution is due to Manchester City itself announcing its intention to appeal, which will require the Premier League to decide at a later stage of the process.

Possible sanctions

The Premier League regulations, specifically rule W.51, outline various options that the panel can apply if it is determined that City has breached the financial rules. These include warnings, fines and point deductions, even the expulsion of the club from the competition.

In serious cases, the authority could also impose a retroactive point deduction, which would increase the likelihood that City loses the titles won in seasons under suspicion of non‑compliance.

The investigation process began in February 2023, when the Premier League accused City of failing to provide accurate financial information or the correct details of payments to coaches and players between the 2009‑2010 and 2017‑2018 seasons. In addition, it was cited for not complying with UEFA’s financial fair play between 2009 and 2018 and with Premier League regulations in the 2015‑2016 and 2017‑2018 campaigns.

The Premier League also alleged a lack of cooperation from the club in investigations carried out between December 2018 and February 2023. In response to these accusations, Manchester City denied all charges and hired the country's top lawyers to try to clear its name and avoid sanctions.

During the decade under investigation, between 2009‑2010 and 2017‑2018, Manchester City won three league titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups. These achievements could be threatened if the breach is confirmed and retroactive sanctions are applied.