Manchester City found guilty of majority of 115 charges, sources say
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 sources said a decision by an independent panel has now been made. That panel was appointed to hear the Premier League's case against the club, away from the clubs themselves.
BBC Sport was also told City will appeal against the findings if a guilty verdict is confirmed. Other Premier League clubs are believed to have been informed about the decision.
The Premier League declined to comment on the reports. City said the process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed, and is subject to strict confidentiality.
The case dates back to February 2023. City were then charged with more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules after a four-year investigation. The allegations covered the period from 2009 to 2018.
At the heart of it is a simple idea. The league says clubs must provide accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of their business. It also requires full disclosure around player and manager pay.
City faced 54 counts of failing to provide that accurate financial information between 2009-10 and 2017-18. They also faced 14 counts linked to player and manager matters, and 35 counts of failing to co-operate with the league's investigation between December 2018 and February 2023.
The hearing began in September 2024. It was held behind closed doors and finished in December 2024 after around 12 weeks of evidence and argument.
No punishment has been confirmed. That will matter to supporters, because the rules allow a range of sanctions, from fines to points deductions, but nothing has been announced.
Frustration at the length of the process has been building. Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick said in August that everyone wants clarity over the case. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has said he understands that frustration.
For fans, this means one long wait may be ending and another beginning. A guilty finding on most charges would be a serious moment for English football. An appeal would then decide what happens next, and how long that takes is not yet clear.
