“Earthquake” in the Premier League: Manchester City found guilty on 114 of 115 charges — the scenarios and possible punishments

Manchester City have been rocked to their foundations. The English club has been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against it for breaching the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play rules.

The news was broken by The Athletic, which notes that there has been no official communication yet and that, as a result, the possible sanctions have not been determined.

For now, no option is off the table: from relegation to a heavy points deduction or fine, and even a possible expulsion from the Premier League. All possibilities remain open. Whatever happens, Manchester City are expected to appeal the decision. At this moment there is no official position from the Citizens’ leadership, who have nonetheless formally commented on the situation to The Athletic.

“The Premier League process is still ongoing, with significant elements to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality. Manchester City’s position therefore remains consistent with the statement issued by the club in February 2023,” the Citizens commented — “the club has respected the process for eight years on the premise that the Premier League’s Board and executives would have acted as an independent, impartial and even-handed regulator, free from any unilateral punishment.”

Manchester City were charged following an investigation into alleged rule breaches committed between 2009 and 2018, and the case was referred to an independent commission to assess the charges. The investigation began after the German daily Der Spiegel published the club’s confidential financial documents in November 2018.

The main charges concern the inflation of several sponsorship deals, the failure to provide detailed financial information and details on payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules and internal regulations on revenue and sustainability — charges the club has always denied.