The Athletic: Man City reportedly found guilty on 114 of 115 charges

September 25, 2026 at 07:36 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League financial rule breaches, The Athletic reported on Friday. Sanctions have not yet been decided and the club is expected to appeal. The charges stem from a 2018 investigation into the club's finances from 2009 to 2018.

Key Facts

Manchester City were found guilty on 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges, according to The Athletic.
Sanctions could include points deductions, financial penalties, title stripping, and relegation from the Premier League.
The charges stem from leaked documents published by Der Spiegel in 2018, covering the period 2009 to 2018.
City have denied the charges and said they have a 'comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence' to prove their innocence.
Everton and Nottingham Forest received points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of profit and sustainability rules.

The Verdict

The Athletic reported on Friday that Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 Premier League financial rule breaches. The report, by David Ornstein, cited anonymous sources briefed on the matter. Sanctions have not yet been decided, and City are expected to appeal. Possible sanctions include points deductions, financial penalties, stripping of titles, and relegation from the Premier League.

The Charges

Of the 115 charges, 80 relate to breaches of regulations from 2009 to 2018, while the remaining 35 concern failure to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation. The charges stem from leaked documents published by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018. Emails purportedly showed inflated sponsorship revenue from Etihad and Etisalat, disguising direct investment from Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group as income. Other documents claimed off-the-books payments to then-manager Roberto Mancini via consultancy fees from a club in Abu Dhabi.

Club Response

A Manchester City spokesperson said the Premier League process remains ongoing and subject to strict confidentiality. The club said its position remains consistent with its February 2023 statement. City have insisted there is a 'comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence' to prove their innocence. In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year UEFA Champions League ban, finding most alleged breaches were not established or time-barred. No such time limitation clause exists in the Premier League case.