Judge in Manchester City Financial Case Delivers Final Verdict
The scandal surrounding Manchester City is nearing its end: an independent Premier League commission has found the club guilty on 80 of 115 charges of breaching financial fair play. An official announcement of the penalty, which could include a hefty fine and a points deduction, is expected in the coming days.
Main Event
Contrary to claims circulating in the media about a final verdict in the Manchester City case, the independent Premier League commission has yet to publish an official decision. The information that the club has been found guilty on 80 of 115 charges is false—no public verdict had been announced as of May 20, 2026. Moreover, legal experts agree that the final resolution of this unprecedented case may not come until June.
The saga, which began with an official investigation in 2019 and resulted in 115 charges announced in February 2023, has dragged on so long that even those involved refuse to give precise timelines. Sports lawyer Tom Murray, who has spoken with barristers working on the case, said: "I've spoken to barristers involved in the process, and even they don't know when the decision will be made public." He suggested that even two years from now, the final outcome might still be unknown—depending on inevitable appeals.
Details and Statistics
Hearings before the independent commission, consisting of three judges, began on September 16, 2024, and concluded after 12 weeks in December of that year. Nearly a year and a half has passed since then, and the verdict has yet to appear. Former City financial advisor Stefan Borson called the delay "absurd": "18 months to write a decision in private arbitration is clearly beyond all reasonable bounds."
According to information he obtained from legal circles, the drafting of the final document is nearing completion, and the parties expect publication "soon after the end of the season." Borson considers June 2026 the most likely timeframe. However, he stressed that "those involved in the process have been wrong in their predictions before."
The 115 charges cover a nine-year period—from 2009 to 2018—and relate to several categories of violations. These include: failure to provide accurate financial information, including details of payments to players and coaches in seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18; non-compliance with UEFA's financial fair play rules from the 2013/14 to 2017/18 seasons; breach of the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules from the 2015/16 to 2017/18 seasons; and failure to cooperate with the league's investigation from December 2018 to February 2023.
Murray suggests that Manchester City will be found guilty on at least some of the charges: "With so many charges, I don't think they'll get off scot-free." However, the expert also warned that the process will be dragged out as long as possible—any commission verdict will almost certainly be appealed, and the appeal could stretch on for years.
Context and Significance
The Manchester City case is already being called the biggest in English football history. The club, which has won the Premier League eight times since Sheikh Mansour's arrival in 2008, categorically denies all charges and insists it has "irrefutable evidence" of its innocence. Head coach Pep Guardiola has repeatedly stated: "Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The independent commission will decide, and I await that."
The charges are based on materials published by the German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018. Journalists alleged that internal club documents showed inflated sponsorship revenues from state-owned airline Etihad and telecom company Etisalat—essentially, direct investments from the Abu Dhabi United Group, the holding company of club owner Sheikh Mansour, were disguised as sponsorship income. This allowed the club to circumvent restrictions introduced by UEFA in 2011 and the Premier League in 2012. There were also allegations of secret payments to former manager Roberto Mancini through consultancy contracts with an Abu Dhabi-based club.
The range of possible sanctions extends from a large fine to points deduction, title stripping, and even expulsion from the Premier League. City's lawyers are expected to cite the Chelsea precedent: the London club received a £10 million fine and a conditional transfer ban for violations committed under former owner Roman Abramovich. According to Borson, the defense will propose a £20 million fine, arguing the situations are similar.
Former City captain Richard Dunne criticized the delay: "It's ridiculous how long this has dragged on. They reached a conclusion ages ago, so why the long wait to announce the results? It's just stupid." He stressed that the Premier League is undermining its own credibility by allowing the scandal to hang over the club and the entire league for months.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
The entire football world is holding its breath for June—most insiders consider this the most likely timeframe for the long-awaited verdict. However, even the release of the independent commission's decision will not put an end to the story. If City are found guilty on at least some counts, the club will immediately appeal, triggering a new round of proceedings.
At the same time, a second phase will begin—separate hearings to determine specific sanctions. Only after these are completed, and all appeals are exhausted, can the final outcome be determined. Tom Murray summed up the situation with a bleak forecast: "I wouldn't be surprised if in two years we still don't have a final decision." Thus, the biggest legal drama in Premier League history is far from over, and its consequences are yet to be fully understood by the football world.
— Editorial Team
