Premier League confirms Manchester City guilty on all financial charges
The Premier League has confirmed Manchester City were found guilty of all charges over serious financial rule breaches, with the club set to appeal and sanctions still to be decided.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-year period, after the league published the ruling of an independent commission. The decision followed an investigation lasting eight years and a hearing that ran for 12 weeks. The commission also found the club guilty of the majority of allegations that it failed to cooperate with the Premier League's inquiry.
The commission described sham commercial contracts with sponsors. It found the club artificially inflated revenues and reduced costs by hundreds of millions of pounds, with figures in coverage ranging from around £830m to more than £900m. The ruling said Manchester City filed misstated accounts that concealed the true state of its finances, misled auditors and regulators, and relied on evidence from witnesses the commission found to be untrue or dishonest. Money from the club's Abu Dhabi ownership was disguised as sponsorship income, according to the findings. One detailed account said commercial income from sponsors was around £950m over the period, but only £119m actually came from sponsors, with the rest effectively topped up by Abu Dhabi United Group.
The financial charges covered 2009 to 2018, with separate allegations of non-cooperation from 2018 to 2023. During the nine-year financial period, City won three Premier League titles, six domestic cups and had eight successive seasons in the Champions League. The club had already won more trophies after the charges were brought. The Premier League said City systematically broke its rules for nearly a decade.
Manchester City deny wrongdoing. After the initial reports, the club said the process remained ongoing and that significant elements were still to be completed. After the Premier League published the ruling, City said it was disappointed and surprised, insisted it was innocent and had irrefutable evidence, and said it would appeal by Friday. Chief executive Ferran Soriano told staff the commission had supported a Premier League conspiracy theory and had ignored the club's evidence. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told fans in an open letter that the process still had a long way to run and that the club's confidence in proving its innocence was as strong as when the case began. Former manager Pep Guardiola also backed the club, owner and chairman.
Sanctions have not yet been decided. The possible penalties include a reprimand, a heavy fine, a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League, or a combination. Some reports have suggested a points deduction large enough to relegate the club, fines running into hundreds of millions of pounds, or the stripping of titles. City have a deadline of Friday to appeal. The appeal process would be separate, and legal experts expect it could take months or years. Coverage said the club cannot take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the appeal.
Other Premier League clubs are taking legal advice about compensation. Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are among the clubs reported to be considering claims. Clubs may argue they lost titles, Champions League places, prize money or top-flight status during the period. The government has called for a swift and fair resolution, while the culture secretary said expulsion is the most serious possible sanction. The case has also raised questions about the Premier League's reputation, City's Abu Dhabi ownership and the future of the club's trophies.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester City indicated it would appeal if it lost the case. | |||||||
| The Athletic reported that Manchester City was found guilty of almost all 115 charges, with sanctions still undecided. | |||||||
| The commission found Manchester City arranged sham sponsor contracts or commercial deals to inflate revenues and reduce costs, with reports citing around £900 million. | |||||||
| The Manchester City chairman said the club's intent to prove its innocence is as strong as when the case began. | |||||||
| Manchester City could not take the case to CAS if unhappy with the review. | · | ||||||
| Manchester City, currently top of the Premier League, could face sanctions including relegation, expulsion, retrospective point deductions, or removal of titles. | · | ||||||
| BBC News reported other clubs could bring litigation, citing Chelsea being fined over charges and Everton being fined £35 million following a claim from Burnley. | · | · | |||||
| Lisa Nandy urged a swift and fair resolution. | · | · | |||||
| Manchester City said its disciplinary inquiry remains ongoing and that some elements are still to be completed confidentially. | · | · | |||||
| The allegations against Manchester City included inflated sponsorship income linked to Abu Dhabi ownership. | · | · | |||||
| The charges were first brought in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. | · | · | |||||
| It was reported that the claims about Manchester City are unverified and unconfirmed. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel broke the story as a developing report from The Athletic, stressing that Manchester City had issued a holding statement and that any guilty finding would be subject to appeal. It also gave a detailed legal and financial background, including possible sanctions.
- “Manchester City have put out this statement in the last 20 minutes to say that the inquiry is ongoing.”
- “The Athletic saying that they have been found guilty of almost all of the 115 charges against them.”
- “in the event of a defeat, Manchester City would be appealing against that finding.”
The channel placed the story in a wider financial context, discussing Premier League revenues, transfer debt, UEFA concerns and competitive balance. It reported the guilty finding as a developing story and noted City had not disputed the reports.
- “Manchester City who've been found guilty of all but one of the a hundred and fifteen charges”
- “The charges cover the period 2009 to 2018”
- “City have not disputed the reports in any way”
The channel treated the story as breaking news that could rock football, focusing on the likely severity of sanctions. It used a football journalist to explain the charges in plain terms and highlighted retrospective point deductions and title removal as possibilities.
- “Reports suggest manchester city have been found guilty of breaking the majority of the 115 financial rules”
- “sanctions could include Retrospective point deductions and even the removal of titles”
- “everyone's expecting a severe punishment now”
The channel relied on BBC sources to confirm the panel had reached a decision before official publication, and it repeatedly stressed that punishment had not yet been decided. Its coverage combined national reporting with regional bulletins and later detailed compensation and appeal risks.
- “Sources have told the BBC that an independent panel has reached a decision”
- “Manchester City currently top of the Premier League could face relegation even expulsion”
- “The club has diligently respected due process for eight years”
The channel framed the case as an unprecedented footballing scandal and later confirmed the Premier League had published damning findings. It gave strong weight to fan reaction, former chairman David Bernstein and the scale of possible punishment.
- “ITV News has learned that Manchester City Football Club has been found guilty on almost 115 charges”
- “Sham agreements that artificially inflated the club's revenue”
- “Manchester City used sham contracts to artificially inflate their revenues”
The channel was slower to treat the verdict as confirmed, describing the reports as unverified and noting that neither City nor the Premier League had confirmed them at first. It explained the charges in three broad buckets and later carried the chairman's response.
- “according to unverified reports”
- “An independent panel is understood to have upheld almost all the charges”
- “the club's chairman says the club is intent on proving its innocence”
The programme focused on the official publication of the independent commission's ruling and its damning language. It highlighted sham commercial deals, a figure of around £900m, non-cooperation and the reputational damage to both City and the Premier League.
- “the official publication by the Premier League of the independent Commission's ruling and it is damning”
- “sham commercial deals which were designed it says to Artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce costs by around nine hundred million pounds”
- “the club had made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the investigation”
The late bulletin led on the confirmed findings as the biggest scandal in Premier League history. It used stark language about sham agreements, nearly a billion pounds and the tainting of City's trophies, while looking ahead to sanctions and compensation.
- “the biggest scandal in the history of football's Premier League has been confirmed”
- “The report said City hid nearly a billion pounds to get round the rules”
- “This is the darkest of days for them and a seismic moment for the Premier League”
The panel debated the fairness and practicality of punishing City, with scepticism about retrospectively stripping titles. It also noted that City had not specifically denied the reports and that the club said the process was ongoing.
- “an independent commission has found the club guilty of more than 100 of the charges it faces”
- “There's been no specific denial of that from Man City who say the process is ongoing”
- “they've clearly not followed the rules”
The channel carried short news bulletins before moving to political discussion and newspaper reviews. It focused on the scale of the charges, the possibility of expulsion and the idea that City cannot escape serious consequences.
- “Manchester City have been found guilty on virtually all counts”
- “Premier League has confirmed that manchester city have been found guilty of all charges”
- “you can't get away with this”
The rolling news channel repeatedly updated the story from initial reports to official confirmation. It carried the chairman's open letter, explained possible sanctions and gave legal and regulatory analysis.
- “Manchester City has been found guilty of the majority of 115 financial rule breaches”
- “The Premier League has tonight confirmed that Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges”
- “The chairman of Manchester City Khaldoon Al Mubarak says the process of legal action against it still has a long way to run”
The regional bulletin led with the confirmed guilty findings as its top story, using Dan Roan's reporting. It stressed sham contracts, disguised funding, overstated income and the potential consequences for City and the Premier League.
- “Premier League has tonight confirmed that Manchester City have been found guilty of all the charges relating to serious breaches of financial rules”
- “sham contracts with commercial partners, with income hugely overstated”
- “disguised funding scheme used to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs by £830 million”
The morning programme focused on rival clubs consulting lawyers and possible compensation, alongside fan and former player reaction. It also discussed the possible range of punishments, including transfer bans and expulsion.
- “After reports that Manchester City has been found guilty of all but one of the hundred and fifteen charges”
- “Now rivals of the top flight team are believed to be in talks with lawyers over what action they could take”
- “They've been found guilty of those charges”
This bulletin focused on legal action by Premier League clubs and the mechanics of the appeal process. It set out the 14-day appeal window, the new appeal panel and the limit on further challenges to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
- “Premier League clubs are planning legal action after Manchester City were reportedly found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges”
- “City have now got 14 days to lodge an appeal”
- “They cannot go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if they don't like the results of the review”
The bulletin focused on rival clubs seeking legal advice and potential compensation, naming four major clubs. It also carried Noel Gallagher's reaction and the government's demand for swift justice.
- “League football clubs have sought legal advice about what compensation claims they could make against Manchester City”
- “ITV News has learned that four of City's rivals, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs, are among those clubs seeking legal advice”
- “The Government wants swift justice”
The programme treated the official verdict as damning and focused on the scale of the deception, including sham contracts and more than £900m in inflated revenues and reduced costs. It also highlighted City chief executive Ferran Soriano's refusal to answer questions.
- “Premier League has confirmed Manchester City has been found guilty of all charges”
- “sham contracts with a number of its commercial partners to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs by more than £900 million”
- “The report found that the club filed accounts that concealed the true state of its finances”
The channel reported more than 100 charges proven and described the verdict as a mass deception involving sham commercial arrangements. It raised deeper consequences for those involved and possible action by the football regulator.
- “More than a hundred charges proven against Manchester City”
- “damning verdict in so much detail talking about these sham commercial arrangements”
- “The club insists it's innocent and has evidence to appeal the verdict”
This bulletin repeated the confirmed verdict and focused on the club's insistence that it had evidence to appeal. It highlighted that the commission found City misled auditors as well as football authorities.
- “Premier League rather, has confirmed Manchester City has been found guilty of all charges”
- “The club insists it's innocent and has evidence to appeal the verdict”
- “They didn't just mislead the football authorities, but also the auditors”
The weekend bulletin focused on the chairman's response and his open letter to fans. It repeated that City deny the charges and that possible sanctions include a huge fine or expulsion.
- “Manchester City's chairman says he's confident of proving the club's innocence”
- “Khaldoon Al Mubarak wrote an open letter to fans following a four-year investigation”
- “If found to have lost the case, City could face a huge fine or even expulsion”
The programme led on the chairman's confidence and the upheld 114 of 115 counts. It also gave air to former City chairman David Bernstein's view that a financial punishment alone would not be enough.
- “Manchester City's chairman says he's still confident of proving the club's innocence”
- “114 of 115 counts were upheld”
- “money is not a sufficient punishment”
The lunchtime bulletin focused on City's fightback after the verdict. It highlighted the chief executive's accusation that the Premier League had pursued a conspiracy theory and Pep Guardiola's public backing for the club.
- “The chief executive of Manchester City has accused the Premier League of engaging in a conspiracy theory”
- “The word sham was used eight times during yesterday's report”
- “I am here more than ever. I am behind my club, my owner, my chairman”
The podcast-style programme gave a timeline of the case and explained the mechanics of the disguised funding. It focused on how only a small share of reported sponsor income actually came from sponsors and on the looming appeal deadline.
- “Manchester City have been found guilty by the Premier League of breaking more than a hundred of the league's rules”
- “the word sham comes up eight times in this 40 page report”
- “commercial income from sponsors was around £950 million. But the ruling says that only £119 million of that actually came from the sponsors”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 15:16 BST
“Manchester City have put out this statement in the last 20 minutes”
Verified Live · Fri 25 Sept - 15:20 BST
Kieran Maguire, academic and broadcaster
“let's bring in the academic and broadcaster Kieran Maguire, who also joins us live on the programme”
Verified Live · Fri 25 Sept - 21:01 BST
Manchester City Football Club, one of the world's biggest football clubs and eight-time Premier League champions
“The club, currently top of the Premier League, has issued a statement saying the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.”
The Context · Fri 25 Sept - 21:05 BST
Matt Lawton, chief sports correspondent at The Times
“Well, I think the more crucial date is the fact that the hearing, the 12-week hearing ended in December 24 and it's taken 19 months to get to this point.”
The Context · Fri 25 Sept - 05:01 BST
Manchester City, one of the world's biggest football clubs and eight-time Premier League champions
“the Premier League process remains ongoing,”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 05:05 BST
Ashleigh Morgan, Professor of Sports Management at Flinders University, Australia
“Well, let's now speak to Ashleigh Morgan,”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 10:03 BST
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 10:04 BST
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
“I mean obviously as the Secretary of State for Sport, I mean close contact with the Premier League”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 16:01 BST
Manchester City, football club
“Manchester City has always denied wrongdoing.”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 16:03 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City football club
“The Premier League process still has got a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocent is just as strong as when this began.”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 05:23 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City
“We've faced challenges together before and have prevailed, said Al Mubarak”
BBC News · Sun 27 Sept - 06:17 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City
“in a statement Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the club had faced challenges before”
BBC News · Sun 27 Sept - 06:21 BST
Dr Annette Greenhow, associate professor at the faculty of law at Bond University, general editor of Sports Law and Governance Journal
“dr Annette Greenhow associate professor at the faculty of law at Bond University she's also the general editor of Sports Law and Governance Journal”
BBC News · Sun 27 Sept - 21:15 BST
Lisa Nandy, UK government minister responsible for sport
“well obviously it's incredibly serious the premier league report is incredibly stark”
The Context · Tue 29 Sept - 21:16 BST
David Bernstein, former Manchester city chairman and a big Manchester city fan
“Well exactly you've explained it perfectly well my reaction is I expected bad news but I'm”
The Context · Tue 29 Sept - 21:20 BST
Dr Jan Zglinski, Associate Professor at the LSE Law School
“Good evening yes this is a significant development and it's hard to really find the right words”
The Context · Tue 29 Sept
- 18:03 BST
“City wouldn't confirm the news but in a statement said the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed and”
BBC News · Fri 25 Sept - 22:03 BST
“In a statement, the club said, the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed.”
BBC News and Weather · Fri 25 Sept - 22:07 BST
Rui Pinto, convicted computer hacker
“And yet even the most avid fans don't know the name Rui Pinto.”
BBC News and Weather · Fri 25 Sept - 13:02 BST
“the club has diligently respected due process for eight years”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 17:10 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City
“In a statement, Khaldoon Al Mubarak said”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 17:12 BST
Manchester City, club
“they said, the club has diligently respected due process”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 22:32 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City
“Khaldoon al Mubarak said the club had faced challenges before and had prevailed”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 22:32 BST
“Manchester City have denied all the 115 charges against them”
BBC News · Sat 26 Sept - 18:15 BST
“The club's say they are both disappointed and surprised by the decision and will appeal”
BBC News · Tue 29 Sept - 22:19 BST
Manchester City, English football's most successful club
“City says it's both disappointed and surprised by the decision and will appeal.”
BBC News and Weather · Tue 29 Sept - 13:27 BST
Pep Guardiola, former Manchester City boss
“the former Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola.”
BBC News at One including... · Wed 30 Sept - 18:12 BST
- 18:13 BST
- 18:13 BST
David Kogan, chairman of the independent football regulator
“it had created serious issues”
BBC News · Wed 30 Sept - 22:20 BST
Pep Guardiola, Legendary former manager
“I am always have been always will be Behind my club my owner my chairman”
BBC News and Weather · Wed 30 Sept - 22:21 BST
Etihad Airways, city's principal sponsor
“city's principal sponsor Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways warned”
BBC News and Weather · Wed 30 Sept
- 19:46 BST
David Bernstein, Former Manchester City chairman
“Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein reacted with huge disappointment.”
Channel 4 News · Fri 25 Sept - 19:47 BST
Manchester City, football club
“in a statement Manchester City say the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed.”
Channel 4 News · Fri 25 Sept - 19:27 BST
Manchester City, one of the most successful clubs of our era
“The club is innocent, they say in their statement.”
Channel 4 News · Tue 29 Sept
- 18:33 BST
“As such Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's”
ITV Evening News · Fri 25 Sept - 18:34 BST
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister
“I know this has been a long process between the club”
ITV Evening News · Fri 25 Sept - 22:05 BST
Premier League, league
“I understand that people are frustrated. It has taken longer than anyone expected.”
ITV News at Ten · Fri 25 Sept - 22:06 BST
Manchester City, club
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years”
ITV News at Ten · Fri 25 Sept - 13:01 BST
- 18:17 BST
Noel Gallagher, City fan and oasis star
“Overall, just quite sad, really. So sad for the fans and the players.”
ITV Evening News · Sat 26 Sept - 18:17 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City's chairman
“the Premier League process still has a long way to run”
ITV Evening News · Sat 26 Sept - 18:18 BST
- 23:07 BST
- 23:08 BST
- 18:41 BST
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive
“This disciplinary case and this decision are the most significant in Premier League history.”
ITV Evening News · Tue 29 Sept - 18:41 BST
Manchester City, club
“the club is innocent of the accusations by the Premier League”
ITV Evening News · Tue 29 Sept - 18:42 BST
Mauricio Pochettino, manager at Tottenham Hotspur during this period
“At the end of the day, we went through something”
ITV Evening News · Tue 29 Sept - 22:25 BST
Mauricio Pochettino, manager at Tottenham Hotspur during that period
“At the end of the day, we went through something where sporting fairness didn't exist.”
ITV News at Ten · Tue 29 Sept - 19:18 BST
Pep Guardiola, Former Manchester City manager
“He said, I am, always have been, always will be, behind my club”
ITV Evening News · Wed 30 Sept - 19:18 BST
Roy Keane, Ex-Manchester United player turned pundit
“I'd be 100% sticking them medals in the bin.”
ITV Evening News · Wed 30 Sept
- 16:04 BST
“Kieran Maguire has joined me to discuss this developing story”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 16:06 BST
Manchester City, club
“Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club statement of February 2023”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 16:08 BST
Roberto Mancini, manager
“he told me I don't know nothing I don't remember”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 16:12 BST
Richard Masters, Premier League CEO
“asked the Premier League CEO Richard Masters about the case”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 16:12 BST
“asked the Premier League CEO Richard Masters about the case”
Sky News Today · Fri 25 Sept - 22:10 BST
“As such, Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023.”
The Wrap With Gillian Joseph · Fri 25 Sept - 06:02 BST
“Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Sat 26 Sept - 06:02 BST
Roger E, former Manchester City midfielder
“Always tell us the confidence they have on on the innocence and you know”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Sat 26 Sept - 10:01 BST
Manchester City, club
“Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023.”
Sky News Today with Sam Washington · Sat 26 Sept - 10:02 BST
Lisa Nandy, Culture and Sports Secretary
“This is a case that has been running on for a really, really long time.”
Sky News Today with Sam Washington · Sat 26 Sept - 10:07 BST
Noel Gallagher, celebrity Manchester City fan
“A little surprised when I heard it on the radio this afternoon.”
Sky News Today with Sam Washington · Sat 26 Sept - 16:01 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City chairman
“Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the Premier League process still has a long way to run and our confidence and intent improving the club's innocence he says is just as strong as when this began.”
Sky News Today · Sat 26 Sept - 16:19 BST
Miguel Delaney, chief football writer at The Independent and author of the award-winning book, States of Play
“Good time now to discuss this with Miguel Delaney, the chief football writer at The Independent and author of the award-winning book, States of Play”
Sky News Today · Sat 26 Sept - 22:02 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman
“Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement,”
The Wrap With Gillian Joseph · Sat 26 Sept - 22:05 BST
“It's a huge story. It's not just a football story.”
The Wrap With Gillian Joseph · Sat 26 Sept - 22:07 BST
“Well, I've always, as you may know, I'm not a football fan.”
The Wrap With Gillian Joseph · Sat 26 Sept - 06:10 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City
“Mubarak said the Premier League process still has a long way to run and our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocent is”
Mornings with Jones and Melbourne · Sun 27 Sept - 02:08 BST
“They say the club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive”
Sky News · Wed 30 Sept - 06:14 BST
- 06:16 BST
- 17:18 BST
Will unwill, football journalist for the guardian
“Will unwill is a football journalist for the guardian and he joins us now great to have you on the program tonight”
5 News with Dan Walker · Fri 25 Sept - 17:19 BST
Manchester City, football Giants
“the premier league process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality”
5 News with Dan Walker · Fri 25 Sept - 19:00 BST
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City's chairman
“We want to see this resolved as quickly as possible, not just to provide certainty and”
5 News Weekend · Sat 26 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.