The Athletic and The Times reported on Friday that City had been found in breach on 114 of 115 counts first laid in February 2023. The Premier League has not published an official verdict. A league spokesperson said only that the process was confidential and that it would not comment.
City told British media the inquiry “remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed” and remains subject to confidentiality. The club restated its February 2023 position and said it had respected due process for eight years.
The charges cover seasons from 2009-10 to 2022-23 and include alleged failures to provide accurate financial information. Across that span City won seven Premier League titles, a Champions League, three FA Cups and six League Cups. They have always denied wrongdoing.
Hearings before a three-person independent commission ran from September to December 2024. Clubs were told a decision had been reached after Thursday’s Premier League meeting. Selected directors were required to sign non-disclosure agreements before reading the document.
The next formal step is a sanctions hearing, at which the league and City can make submissions. Possible penalties under league rules include a points deduction, a fine, relegation or expulsion. Other clubs have already taken legal advice on whether they could seek compensation.
Both sides would then have a window to appeal to a fresh panel. City’s defence is led by Lord Pannick KC. BBC Sport reported that any punishment is expected to be announced before an appeal is finished, and that an appeal could take months.
No titles have been stripped and no points have yet been deducted. Until the Premier League issues a public ruling, the case remains inside the confidential process City described. The reported finding, if confirmed, would still be the most serious financial verdict in Premier League history.