What Happened to Manchester City 115 Charges?
Manchester City Football Club has been facing 115 charges from the Premier League for alleged breaches of financial rules over a nine-season period from 2009 to 2018, as well as a failure to cooperate with the investigation. As of September 25, 2026, reports indicate that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges. The club maintains its innocence, and sanctions are yet to be determined, with an appeal expected.
Quick Answer
As of September 25, 2026, Manchester City has reportedly been found guilty by an independent commission on 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League for alleged financial rule breaches and non-cooperation. The charges span from the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. While the verdict has emerged, the specific sanctions, which could range from fines and points deductions to expulsion from the league, have not yet been decided, and Manchester City is expected to appeal the decision.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Abu Dhabi United Group Acquires Manchester City
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Abu Dhabi United Group completes a £200m takeover of Manchester City, marking a new era of significant investment.
Period of Alleged Financial Breaches
The nine-season period during which Manchester City is alleged to have committed numerous financial rule breaches, including inaccurate reporting and FFP violations.
UEFA FFP Breach and Fine
UEFA finds Manchester City in breach of Financial Fair Play rules, resulting in a €20 million fine and restrictions on their Champions League squad.
Football Leaks Revelations Begin
Millions of confidential documents, later known as 'Football Leaks', begin to be published, raising questions about financial practices at several top clubs, including Manchester City.
Der Spiegel Publishes Further Allegations
German magazine Der Spiegel publishes further 'Football Leaks' documents, specifically alleging that City inflated sponsorship revenues to bypass FFP rules.
UEFA Issues Two-Year Champions League Ban
UEFA bans Manchester City from the Champions League for two seasons and imposes a €30 million fine for 'serious breaches' of FFP regulations and non-cooperation.
CAS Overturns UEFA Ban
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturns City's Champions League ban, reducing the fine to €10 million for failing to cooperate, but finding some allegations time-barred or unproven.
Premier League Files 115 Charges
The Premier League refers Manchester City to an independent commission, announcing 115 charges for alleged financial rule breaches and failure to cooperate following a four-year investigation.
Independent Commission Hearing Begins
A 12-week hearing before an independent commission, comprising three judges, commences at a secret location in London to review the extensive evidence.
Independent Commission Hearing Concludes
The 12-week hearing into the Premier League's charges against Manchester City concludes, with no immediate announcement on the verdict date.
Pep Guardiola Announces Departure
Manager Pep Guardiola announces he will leave Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season, concluding a decade of unprecedented success.
Enzo Maresca Appointed Manager
Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is appointed as Manchester City's new manager, succeeding Pep Guardiola.
Reports of Guilty Verdict Emerge
Reports from multiple media outlets, citing anonymous sources, state that Manchester City has been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges by the independent commission. Sanctions are yet to be decided, and the club is expected to appeal.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The 'Manchester City 115 Charges' refers to a comprehensive set of allegations made by the Premier League against Manchester City Football Club. The charges, announced on February 6, 2023, accuse the club of more than 100 breaches of financial rules over a nine-season period, from 2009-10 to 2017-18. These alleged breaches include 54 counts of failing to provide accurate financial information, 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, 5 counts of failing to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, and 7 counts of breaching the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) rules. Additionally, the club faced 35 charges for allegedly failing to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation between 2018 and 2023.
The genesis of these allegations can be traced back to the 'Football Leaks' revelations, where millions of private documents related to football clubs were hacked and made public starting in 2015 and 2018. These documents purportedly showed Manchester City inflating sponsorship revenues through fictitious deals to circumvent FFP regulations, effectively allowing owner Sheikh Mansour to inject more funds under the guise of legitimate endorsements. This led to a UEFA investigation, which in February 2020, resulted in a two-year ban from the Champions League and a €30 million fine for 'serious breaches' of FFP. However, this ban was successfully overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July 2020, which reduced the fine to €10 million for failing to cooperate with investigators, stating some allegations were not proven or were time-barred.
Despite the CAS ruling, the Premier League's own four-year investigation culminated in the formal charges in February 2023. Manchester City consistently denied all allegations, stating they were 'surprised' by the charges and possessed 'irrefutable evidence' to support their position. An independent commission, comprising three judges, began a 12-week hearing into the charges on September 16, 2024, concluding on December 6, 2024.
CURRENT STATUS as of 2026-09-25: Reports from multiple reputable sources, including The Athletic, BBC Sport, and The Guardian, indicate that Manchester City has been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges by the independent commission. The Premier League has not yet officially published the judgment, and a City spokesperson stated that the 'Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.' Sanctions have not been decided, and the club is expected to appeal the verdict. Potential penalties could include substantial fines, significant points deductions, or even, in the most extreme circumstances, expulsion from the Premier League and the stripping of past titles.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Manchester City 115 Charges made different choices?