Manchester City are still awaiting the verdict in the Premier League’s long-running case involving 115 alleged breaches of the competition’s financial regulations, with the independent commission yet to announce its findings.
The case, which has attracted widespread attention across English football, was referred to an independent commission after the Premier League formally charged Manchester City in February 2023.
However, despite the conclusion of the commission’s hearing in December 2024, no final liability decision or punishment has been announced as of September 2026. Recent reports have highlighted the extraordinary length of time taken to reach a conclusion.
Manchester City have consistently denied the allegations and maintain that the club has acted in accordance with due process.
What Are the Manchester City 115 Charges?
The allegations concern Manchester City’s conduct over a period stretching from 2009 to 2018.
The Premier League accused the club of failing to provide accurate financial information, including information relating to revenue and operating costs. Other allegations concern the disclosure of payments to players and managers, compliance with UEFA’s financial regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability requirements.
The Premier League also brought allegations relating to the club’s cooperation with its investigation.
The case was referred to an independent commission following a lengthy investigation that began after the publication of leaked financial documents by German newspaper Der Spiegel in 2018.
Manchester City Deny All Allegations
Manchester City have repeatedly rejected the allegations and have maintained that the independent process should be conducted fairly and impartially.
The club’s position has remained unchanged throughout the proceedings, with City insisting that it has substantial evidence in support of its defence.
The independent commission heard the case over several weeks in 2024, with the evidentiary hearing concluding in December that year. Despite that, the commission has yet to publish its ruling.
Why Has the Manchester City Verdict Taken So Long?
The delay has become a major talking point surrounding the case.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters acknowledged in August 2026 that the verdict had taken longer than expected, while stressing that the matter remained with the independent process.
Recent reporting also noted that September 2026 marked two years since the commission hearing began, with no decision yet made public.
The complexity and scale of the case have been cited as factors behind the lengthy process.
Importantly, there is currently no confirmed public verdict finding Manchester City guilty of any of the 115 charges. Any claim that the club has already been found guilty of all but one of the allegations should therefore be treated as inaccurate unless and until the independent commission publishes its decision.
Previous UEFA Case
The current Premier League proceedings are separate from Manchester City’s earlier UEFA financial fair play case.
In February 2020, UEFA imposed a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine on Manchester City.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned the European competition ban after finding that some of the alleged breaches were not established to the required standard or were time-barred.
CAS nevertheless found Manchester City guilty of failing to cooperate with UEFA’s investigation and imposed a €10 million fine.
That earlier case should not be confused with the Premier League’s separate 115-charge proceedings.
What Punishment Could Manchester City Face?
Because the independent commission has not yet published its decision, there is currently no confirmed punishment for Manchester City.
If the commission ultimately finds breaches established, the sanctions available under the Premier League’s rules can include financial penalties, points deductions and other sporting or regulatory measures, depending on the findings.
Any sanction would also be subject to the applicable appeal process.
The precise consequences cannot be known until the commission publishes its findings and determines whether any breaches have been established.
Manchester City Continue to Compete in the Premier League
While the legal case remains unresolved, Manchester City continue to compete in the Premier League.
Under new head coach Enzo Maresca, City have made a strong start to the 2026-27 campaign and were sitting at the top of the Premier League table after maintaining a perfect start to the season. Reuters reported that City’s 5-3 victory over Sunderland on September 20 extended their winning run and kept them three points clear at the top.
Manchester City have won eight Premier League titles since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008.
The outcome of the 115-charge case could therefore have significant implications for the club, the Premier League and the historical record of the competition, but those consequences cannot be determined until the independent commission issues its ruling.