Manchester City don land for hot water as independent panel reportedly find say dem guilty of breaking most of the 115 financial rules wey dem accuse dem of breaching. The Athletic dey report say sanctions never decide, but the panel don reach decision and find the club guilty for all but one count. Premier League no talk anything. When dem ask City if report correct, the club no comment either way.
Instead City release statement say the Premier League process still dey go on with significant elements to complete, and e dey subject to strict confidentiality. The club add say dem diligently respect due process for eight years on basis say the Premier League board and executive go behave as independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. BBC Sport also hear say if dem found guilty, City go appeal against the findings.
Other Premier League clubs believe say dem don inform about the independent panel decision, and dem don seek legal advice on whether dem get compensation claim. In February 2023, City face more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules after four-year investigation. Dem refer the club to independent commission over allegations say e breach financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The hearing start September 2024 behind closed doors and conclude that December after around 12 weeks.
Premier League claim say City breach rules wey require club to provide accurate financial information that gives true and fair view of club financial position. City strongly deny all charges and talk say their case get support from comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence. The club win eight trophies for the period wey the case cover, including three Premier League titles, three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup. The charges cover managerial tenures of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, plus first two years under Pep Guardiola, who leave the club after 10 seasons at end of 2025-26 campaign.
A separate case between City and Premier League also hear last year. In 2024, independent arbitration panel find against aspects of league Associated Party Transaction regulations after City launch arbitration challenge. Tribunal held in February 2025 find say Premier League rules governing sponsorship deals from period between 2021 and 2024 dey void and unenforceable. City and Premier League reach settlement in September 2025, with club accept say APT rules valid and binding and both parties agree to terminate legal proceedings. The rules form by Premier League to stop clubs from profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners wey dem deem above fair market value.
The charge list include 54 failures to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18. E also get 14 failures to provide accurate details for player and manager payments from 2009-10 to 2017-18. Five failures to comply with Uefa rules including Financial Fair Play from 2013-14 to 2017-18, and seven breaches of Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules from 2015-16 to 2017-18. The remaining 35 na failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations between December 2018 and February 2023. Times and football finance expert Kieran Maguire suggest say number of charges fit reach 130. BBC Sport no fit verify this one.
Reports claim say independent tribunal don reach decisions for Manchester City 115 charges case. Sky Sports look at wetin fit happen next. If any breach prove, e dey highly likely say Manchester City go appeal. For that case, both sides fit appeal within 14 days of the judgment. Any appeal go hear by new three-person commission. Dem fit appeal judgment on grounds like fraud, misconduct, or gross unfairness by the arbitrator. City no fit appeal to Court of Arbitration for Sport.
In 2014, City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak talk say he rather spend £30m on best 50 lawyers for world and sue UEFA for next 10 years than agree financial penalty for alleged Financial Fair Play breaches. A party to proceedings wey wish to challenge decision of Commission fit do so under Section W of Premier League Rules. Appeal Board dey appointed by chair of independent judicial panel, Sir Gary Hickinbottom, and e must get three members, one of whom should don hold judicial office, and that person go sit as chair of Appeal Board. Proceedings of Appeal Board dey confidential and dem hear am in private.
Appeal Board get wide discretion for appeal, and e fit allow am, dismiss am, or make any order wey e deem fit, including varying order of Commission. Sanctions wey independent commission fit use include fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions. Premier League no get set sanctions for financial rule breaches. Clubs decide not to get them because fear say clubs go break rules and just take punishment if dem know wetin punishment go be. In February 2025, Richard Masters talk say Premier League dey look at having Sanctions Grid, wey go set out agreed sanctions for different rules breaches.
Everton get six points deducted on appeal during 2023/24 season and then two points for profit and sustainability rules breaches. Nottingham Forest get four points deducted for same season. For 2008/09 season, Luton Town get 30 points deducted, 10 points for illegal payments to agents and 20 points for exiting administration without Company Voluntary Arrangement. For 2021/22 season, Derby County get 21 points deducted, 12 points for entering administration and nine points for financial irregularities. A separate hearing go determine sanctions. The appeal go be end of this part of process. No appeal to CAS go possible. More legal cases likely, with clubs potentially take action against City over missing out on trophies and Champions League qualification.
Erling Haaland don withdraw from scheduled media duties with Norway national team as fallout from Manchester City financial case continue. The striker suppose address press ahead of Nations League fixture, but officials make late change to line-up.
