BBC News
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Sami Mokbel, Dan Roan, Nizaar Kinsella
Premier League clubs are exploring legal options for potential financial compensation following Manchester City's recent guilty verdict on 115 charges of breaching financial rules. The clubs, seeking advice before the official announcement, fear the possibility of sanctions that could affect league standings. While no public statement has been made by the Premier League, some club directors were informed under strict confidentiality agreements. Manchester City denies any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the decision, potentially prolonging the uncertainty for other teams involved in compensation claims.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Manchester City has been found guilty of almost all (114 out of 115) charges related to breaching Premier League financial regulations, according to reports by The Athletic. The charges stem from an investigation that began in February 2023 and cover a period from 2009 to 2018. City has yet to confirm the verdict but maintains its case is still ongoing.
The offenses include providing inaccurate financial information, failing to disclose player and manager payments accurately, breaching UEFA’s financial fair play rules, and non-cooperation with Premier League investigations. The club faces potential punishments ranging from significant points deductions to suspension from competitions.
City plans to appeal the decision, which could extend legal proceedings for several months. Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp has previously welcomed any ruling that would see his team awarded a title if City’s three titles (2012-13, 2014-15, and 2017-18) are stripped due to the breaches. However, no sanctions have been finalized yet. The saga began in November 2018 when German outlet Der Spiegel published emails suggesting City had covered up true sources of income to comply with financial regulations. UEFA and the Premier League launched investigations shortly after these revelations.
Written for “Man City Premier League Charges Verdict” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 85 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Premier League clubs have sought legal advice as to whether they would have a compensation claim over the Manchester City 115 charges case.
uncertain
they → publish → case
After a long wait for the outcome, City have been found guilty of a majority of the financial rule breaches they were accused of.
asserted
they → find → breaches
BBC Sport has also been told that the club will appeal.
asserted
club → tell → ?
It has emerged that a number of Premier League sides, prior to Friday's news, had already started seeking advice over whether they would have a case for financial compensation as a result of City's breaches.
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they → emerge → breaches
It also emerged that:
Other Premier League clubs have been formally told about the independent panel's decision.
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clubs → emerge → decision
A select group of club directors were informed by email and had to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they could read the document, a source told the BBC
While it is not known when the outcome will be officially communicated to the public by the Premier League, it is understood the punishment decided by the panel will be released before any appeal is completed
Manchester City deny wrongdoing but being found guilty on the most serious charges means they could be looking at a points deduction serious enough to relegate them, large fines or even expulsion from the Premier League
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they → inform → League
An appeal process could mean the uncertainty surrounding the case continues to cloud the top flight
A sanctions hearing could still be months away.
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hearing → mean → flight
Once that is ruled on by the panel, the result may not be published until City's appeal is completed - which could also take a long time to complete
It is understood a number of City players do not have relegation release clauses in their contracts in the event of the club losing their Premier League status as a result of any sanctions
The news that City had been found guilty was broken by the Athletic, which reported that 114 of the 115 counts were upheld.
It came 1,327 days after City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 following a four-year investigation, and 22 months since a hearing by an independent commission concluded.
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hearing → rule → commission
No official announcement has been made by the Premier League, which has declined to comment.
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which → make → League
BBC Sport has been told the independent panel has ruled, and the majority of the charges have been upheld.
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majority → tell → charges
Manchester City released a statement saying: "Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.
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process → release → 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."
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board → respect → influence
One source, who held a senior executive position at one Premier League club before moving to another, said they expected clubs to submit individual compensation claims against Manchester City.
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clubs → hold → City
However, another leading lawyer told the BBC that process could be centralised by the league.
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process → lead → league
In June, Everton were told they must pay Burnley £35m after they broke profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) over a three-year period.
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they → tell → period
Burnley argued the breach impacted their chances of staying in the Premier League, and sought compensation for the losses associated with being relegated.
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breach → argue → losses
Everton have appealed, with sources saying they will "robustly and thoroughly" contest the ruling, but it provides an interesting backdrop to the Manchester City case.
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it → appeal → case
BBC Sport has also been told that, in the event of being found guilty, City will appeal against the findings.
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City → tell → findings
In February 2023, City were charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules following a four-year investigation.
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City → charge → investigation
The club was referred to an independent commission over allegations it breached financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
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it → refer → 2009
The hearing began in September 2024 behind closed doors and concluded that December after around 12 weeks.
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hearing → begin → weeks
The Premier League claimed City breached rules requiring the club to provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position".
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that → claim → position
City strongly denied all charges and have said their case is supported by a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence".
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case → deny → evidence
The club won eight trophies in the period covered by the case, including three Premier League titles, three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup.
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club → win → titles
The charges cover the mangerial tenures of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, and the first two years under Pep Guardiola, who left the club after 10 seasons at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
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who → cover → campaign
A separate case between City and the Premier League was also heard last year.
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case → hear → City
In 2024, an independent arbitration panel found against aspects of the league's Associated Party Transaction regulations (APTs) after City launched an arbitration challenge.
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City → find → challenge
A tribunal held in February 2025 found the Premier League's rules governing sponsorship deals from the period between 2021 and 2024 are "void and unenforceable".
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rules → hold → 2021
City and the Premier League reached a settlement in September 2025, with the club accepting the APT rules are valid and binding and both parties agreeing to terminate legal proceedings.
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parties → reach → proceedings
The rules were formed by the Premier League to prevent clubs from profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners that are deemed above "fair market value".
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that → form → value
BBC Sport has been unable to verify this.
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Sport → verify → this
The Aporia
