The Premier League has officially confirmed that Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the league’s financial regulations during a nine-season period.
The body released a statement about the incident concerning the former Premier League Champions on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching its financial rules between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. The commission also found the club guilty of the majority of charges relating to its failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
What did Manchester City breach?
According to the Premier League, the commission found that City had breached rules concerning the provision of accurate financial information.
The findings include allegations that the club used contracts that did not accurately reflect the agreements between the parties, while also submitting financial accounts that did not properly represent its financial position.
The commission also found that Manchester City failed to provide information and documents requested during the Premier League’s investigation.
The original case, which was formally referred to an independent commission in February 2023, involved a much wider set of alleged breaches covering areas including financial reporting, sponsorship revenue, player and manager remuneration, and profitability and sustainability requirements.
Sanction has not yet been decided
Despite the guilty verdict, the Premier League has stressed that the process is not yet complete. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said there are still elements of the case to be determined, most importantly the sanctions that should follow the breaches.
This means Manchester City have not yet been handed a final sporting punishment as a result of today’s announcement.
The possible sanctions under Premier League rules can include financial penalties, points deductions, suspension from competition or, in the most serious circumstances, expulsion. However, no specific punishment should be treated as confirmed until the relevant process is completed.
Manchester City expected to appeal
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and are expected to challenge the commission’s findings through the appeal process. The club’s position remains that it has acted in accordance with the rules, while the Premier League maintains that the independent commission has now established serious breaches covering the period under investigation.
The appeal process will therefore be the next major stage in the case before the question of any eventual sporting sanctions is resolved.
What happens next to Manchester City?
The immediate focus will be on Manchester City’s appeal and the publication of the commission’s detailed findings. Only after the relevant appeals and disciplinary procedures have been completed will the full consequences for Manchester City become clear.
The Premier League has confirmed the central finding: an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of serious financial rule breaches covering the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons, while sanctions remain to be determined.