Manchester City face the super wrath of 114 FFP breach charges: What all could happen to the Citizens next?

Manchester City could be on the receiving end of a historic punishment if the imposed sanctions are as big as expected. (Image credits – CommonsWikipedia, License Details)

Manchester City’s long-running financial case has taken a new turn as reports claim that the Premier League commission has found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 charges slapped against them.

The judgement has not been publicly released yet and the Premier League has refused to comment as well. Manchester City continue to deny any sort of wrongdoing, and the club are expected to appeal against the decision. That means the reported verdict is not yet the final word on the case or any punishment.

The case dates back to 2018 when the Premier League opened an investigation following the Football Leaks revealed Man City exploiting loopholes.

The Sky Blues were initially referred to an independent commission in February 2023, with the allegations covering a nine-season period from 2009-10 to 2017-18, plus alleged failures to cooperate with the subsequent investigation. The hearing on this case eventually took place between September and December 2024.

So, what exactly are the 115 charges? The charges fall into several categories. 54 charges allege that Manchester City failed to provide accurate financial information to the Premier League between the time period of 2009-10 to 2017-18.

As per the rules, clubs participating must provide information giving an accurate picture of their financial position, including club revenue, sponsorship income, related-party transactions and operating costs.

14 charges alleged failures to provide accurate information regarding player and manager salaries during the same period. The Premier League alleged that the league was not given complete or accurate information about certain payments.

There were also 5 alleged breaches concerning UEFA financial regulations, including Financial Fair Play requirements, covering 2013-14 to 2017-18. A further 7 charges were slapped regarding the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules, or PSR, during 2015-16 to 2017-18. These rules are meant to prevent clubs from recording losses beyond permitted limits.

Finally, there are 35 charges that alleged failures to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation, from December 2018 to February 2023. This alleged breach is massive because the cooperation allegations are separate from whether the accused financial breaches occurred. Some reports have even suggested the total could be higher than 115, depending on how individual alleged breaches are counted. Until the commission's judgment is revealed publicly, 115 remains the official figure used for the case.

One of the biggest financial allegations is the Premier League's concern over whether some revenue, particularly sponsorship revenue, was accurately reported. This case was triggered by documents published following Football Leaks.

Those documents raised questions about whether sponsorship income connected to companies associated with Man City's ownership was accurately represented. The club has consistently rejected the allegations and said they possess evidence supporting their position of innocence.

What could Manchester City face if the Premier League decides to take action against them? There is no fixed punishment to 114 guilty charges. The Premier League gives an independent commission a wide range of disciplinary options because clubs did not establish a predetermined sanctions tariff for financial breaches.

If we take previous cases into consideration, Everton were deducted 10 points later reduced to 6 after being proven guilty of one charge. Potential sanctions for 114 guilty charges may include a hefty fine, points deduction, relegation from the Premier League, an indefinite transfer ban, and other decisions which the commission will deem appropriate.

There has also been speculation about titles being stripped during the period between 2009-10 to 2018-19. That is potentially one of the most harsh punishments because some of the alleged breaches cover seasons in which City won the Premier League. Even if the reported 114 guilty findings are accurate, Manchester City's legal battle is not finished.

City are expected to appeal, and the club has already stated that the Premier League process remains ongoing. The appeal could challenge aspects of the commission's findings, the legal reasoning or the eventual sanction.

The case that began with allegations dating back to 2009 could still take years to reach its conclusion. What happens next particularly the sanction and appeal will determine how significant the consequences ultimately become. For now, Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of 115 charges, but the judgment is not yet revealed, sanctions have not been determined, and an appeal is expected from the club claiming innocence.