Manchester City has been found guilty on 114 of 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League, an independent commission ruling has determined, in a verdict that could reshape English football's recent history and expose the six-time champions to sanctions ranging from a heavy fine to points deductions or worse.

The ruling, first reported by The Athletic this week, caps a hearing process that began in September 2024 and ran roughly two years, following charges the Premier League originally filed against City in February 2023. Only one of the 115 charges was dismissed. The case traces back to documents leaked to the German outlet Der Spiegel as part of the Football Leaks disclosures.

What City is accused of

The charges span the period from 2009 to 2018 and allege City disguised owner investment from Abu Dhabi-linked entities — including Etihad Airways and Etisalat — as ordinary commercial sponsorship revenue, made undisclosed extra payments to players and to former manager Roberto Mancini, breached the Premier League's financial sustainability rules, and failed to cooperate fully with investigators, according to reporting on the commission's findings.

City has not disclosed the full contents of the commission's report, which remains confidential pending further process, and the club maintains it did nothing wrong. \"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,\" the club said in a statement, adding it had presented a \"comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence\" in its defense throughout the process.

I BELIEVE IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND I BELIEVE IN THE INNOCENCE OF THE CLUB

City captain Rodri, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, backed his club publicly: \"I believe in the justice system and I believe in the innocence of the club.\" Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, asked about the prospect of City being stripped of titles, said officials would need to study the commission's full report in detail before drawing conclusions, according to Bleacher Report's coverage of the verdict.

No sanctions have been decided yet. Premier League rules allow for punishments ranging from a fine to points deductions to potential expulsion, and City's six Premier League titles won between 2011 and 2023 are now under a cloud, with rival clubs that finished below City in those seasons watching closely and weighing their own legal options. City is expected to appeal any sanction, a process that could stretch well into 2027.

The case is separate from City's earlier, successful challenge to UEFA's 2020 two-year Champions League ban, which the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned. This time, there is no equivalent European body to appeal to — the fight will play out entirely within the Premier League's own disciplinary process.