Manchester City

Dan Roan
Sports editor

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Manchester City deny wrongdoing and insist they are innocent of all of these charges - but being found guilty on the most serious ones would mean they could be looking at a points dedication serious enough to relegate them, or even perhaps expulsion from the Premier League.

Such a fate would stain their many achievements in recent years and would lead to great uncertainty over the future of the players. It may even spark compensation claims from rival clubs.

Equally, there would be questions asked of the Premier League if it loses and City prevail.

It has already cost tens of millions of pounds from both sides in legal fees. Amid various other regulatory issues, this is the case the Premier League will feel it simply has to win.

Clive Myrie tells the football story of the century: the Premier League vs Manchester City.

Listen to episode one below or to the whole series on BBC Sounds here

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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Is the biggest cloud that has been lingering over Manchester City and the Premier League for over three years about to clear?

Well, not quite.

City say in a statement that the "process remains ongoing" but it is understood in the event of a defeat in the case, City will appeal against the findings.

We don't know how long this process would take.

In terms of sanctions, Everton and Nottingham Forest have been docked points in the past for breaching financial rules - would City receive a similar punishment?

Or could it be more severe, such as being stripped of some of the league titles they have won or even relegation to the Football League?

There are plenty of questions that will come up and this may drag on for a while yet.

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Manchester City fan David Mooney from the Blue Moon podcast has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's really strange. We just don't know anything at the moment about where this is going to go.

"On the one hand you've got this great enjoyment from the team you have supported all your life winning unprecedented success and playing football like we've never seen before, but having in the back of your mind that everybody thinks we have cheated to do this and everybody thinks this is illegitimate and that it hasn't been fairly achieved."

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In February 2023, Manchester City were charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules following a four-year investigation.

The charges relate to a period between 2009 and 2018.

The Premier League claimed Manchester City had breached rules requiring the club to provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position".

The club were referred to an independent commission and a 10-week behind-closed-doors hearing began in September 2024.

Manchester City strongly denied all of the charges and said their case was supported by a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence".

Here's a timeline of the events leading up to the verdict:

• November 2018: Football Leaks allegations emerge with German newspaper Der Spiegel publishing claims Manchester City breached FFP rules

• March 2019: Uefa launches a formal investigation off the back of Der Spiegel's findings

• May 2019: Manchester City criticise the investigation and launch an appeal process

• November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) deems the appeal inadmissible

• February 2020: Uefa announces a two-year ban for Manchester City from European competitions and a 30m euro fine for the club

• July 2020: The European ban is overturned after a Cas appeal

• July 2021: Manchester City lose a jurisdiction ruling which allows the media to report that the Premier League is continuing to investigate the club for alleged financial breaches

• April 2022: Der Spiegel publishes a fresh report claiming the Premier League has been investigating the club for three years, providing detailed claims

• February 2023: The Premier League charges Manchester City with 115 financial breaches

• September 2024: The start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and Manchester City on all of the charges

• February 2025: Then manager Pep Guardiola said the club expected to learn the verdict "within one month"

• By the end of 2025: Verdict expected

• September 2026: Sources tell BBC Sport that Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching.

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules they were accused of breaching, sources have told BBC Sport.

The Athletic is reporting that the sanctions have not been decided but that the independent panel has reached its decision, finding them guilty of all but one count.

Sources have told BBC Sport a decision has been made in the case, and City have been found guilty of the majority of breaches.

Other Premier League clubs are believed to have been informed about the decision.

The Premier League declined to comment.

Asked if the report was correct, Manchester City did not comment either way.

Instead, the club released a statement saying that the "Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality".

"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence," it added.

BBC Sport has also been told that, in the event of a defeat, Manchester City will appeal against the findings.