26-09-2026
Manchester City is preparing to challenge the Premier League for months if it is found guilty of alleged financial breaches, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press. Reports said an independent panel had upheld nearly all of more than 100 charges, but neither the club nor the league confirmed the reported decision. City said the process remains ongoing and confidential, and has consistently denied the allegations. The Premier League accused the club in 2023 of providing misleading financial information over a nine-year period, from 2009 to 2018. The charges relate in part to claims that City obscured revenue connected to Abu Dhabi, whose ruling family bought the club in 2008. Any sanctions have yet to be determined and could range from a substantial points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League. The club would appeal a guilty decision, a process expected to take several months. The case follows years of controversy over leaked documents published by Der Spiegel, which City has contested while insisting it has respected due process. City has been among English football’s most successful teams over the period, winning eight league titles since 2012 and the Champions League in 2023. Meanwhile, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly filed legal notices to preserve their right to seek compensation from City. Industry experts cited by the Independent said claims could exceed £200 million, depending on the final sanctions and any lost revenue. The Premier League declined to comment on the reports.
Entities: Manchester City, Premier League, Independent panel, The Associated Press, The Athletic • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
26-09-2026
Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has warned that the club could face “drastic” sanctions if reports that it was found guilty of all but one of 115 alleged Premier League rule breaches are confirmed after an appeal. The Premier League has not officially announced a verdict or punishment, and Manchester City continues to deny the charges. A club spokesperson said City had relied on the expectation that the league’s leadership would act as an independent and impartial regulator; the club is understood to be prepared to appeal if the charges are upheld.
The Premier League charged City in 2023 over alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, including inaccurate financial reporting, undisclosed details of payments to players and coaches, breaches of financial sustainability rules, and failure to cooperate with the investigation. An independent commission hearing began in September 2024. Bernstein, who chaired City from 1998 to 2003, said a potential fine would not be sufficient if guilt were established and argued that the appeal must be resolved quickly. He warned that a prolonged process would damage both the case and English football more broadly.
City fan and musician Noel Gallagher said the reported findings had shocked and saddened him, particularly because the club had consistently denied wrongdoing. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also called the situation unsettling for fans and urged a swift resolution. Possible sanctions, if the reported verdicts are confirmed, could include a major points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. Other clubs are reportedly seeking legal advice about possible compensation. The article also recalls that UEFA’s 2020 two-year European ban on City was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership, City have won eight Premier League titles and a Champions League crown. Former manager Pep Guardiola had supported the club’s position but said he would leave if he believed he had been misled and the allegations proved true.
Entities: Manchester City, David Bernstein, Premier League, 115 alleged financial-rule charges, Independent commission hearing • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
26-09-2026
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says he remains confident the club will prove its innocence in a long-running Premier League financial-rules case. In an open letter to supporters, he stressed that the process is ongoing and that City’s confidence has not changed, despite a report by The Athletic saying the club had been found guilty of 114 alleged breaches. No sanctions have been announced. Possible penalties could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a fine.
Al Mubarak acknowledged that supporters had faced questions after Friday’s reporting, but said he could not share more about the club’s position because of the legal process’s strict confidentiality. He also urged fans to read the club’s statements from Friday and February 2023, saying that every word remained valid. The earlier statement said City was surprised by the allegations, citing its extensive engagement with the Premier League and the materials it had provided. The club said it welcomed review by an independent commission and believed comprehensive evidence supported its position.
In its latest statement, City said the process remained ongoing and that it had respected due process for eight years, expecting the Premier League’s leadership to act as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator. The Premier League declined to comment, citing the confidential nature of the proceedings. The article reports the competing statements and the reported finding but notes that the process has not concluded and sanctions remain unannounced.
Entities: Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City, The Premier League, The Athletic, English Premier League (EPL) • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
