Manchester City could be subjected to drastic sporting sanctions after reportedly being found guilty on 114 of 115 charges for violating financial regulations, former club chairman David Bernstein warned. The Premier League has yet to make an official announcement regarding the outcome of the proceedings or outline potential punitive measures. The Abu Dhabi-backed club continues to strongly deny the allegations and is preparing an immediate appeal if the adverse findings are confirmed.
The unfolding verdict threatens to alter the landscape of English football.
A club spokesperson reiterated that City`s stance remains entirely unchanged, maintaining that officials have respected the regulatory process for eight years under the expectation of an impartial governing body. The Premier League initially brought the charges in 2023 following an extensive investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. Prosecutors accused the reigning champions of failing to provide accurate financial accounts, obscuring payments made to players and coaching staff, breaching sustainability rules, and failing to cooperate with investigators. The independent commission commenced its formal hearings in September 2024.
Bernstein, who served as City chairman between 1998 and 2003 and later headed England`s Football Association, told Times Radio that financial penalties would be wholly insufficient. He stressed that a protracted multi-year appeal process would prove disastrous for the broader sport, emphasizing that the timing of the resolution is critical. Bernstein indicated that if the rulings survive the appeal process, the club could face a catastrophic points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League. Competing top-flight clubs are already consulting legal counsel regarding possible financial compensation claims.
Political figures and prominent supporters have echoed concerns over the stability of the sport.
United Kingdom Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the legal standoff as unsettling for supporters and urged authorities to deliver a rapid resolution. Noel Gallagher, the Oasis songwriter and prominent City supporter, voiced profound shock on a podcast, remarking that supporters felt blindsided after years of repeated assurances from executives. In 2020, European football`s governing body imposed a two-year continental ban on City over financial fair-play rules, though the punishment was subsequently quashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Meanwhile, domestic precedents remain severe, with Everton and Nottingham Forest both suffering points deductions during the 2023/24 season for single financial infractions.
Under Sheikh Mansour`s Abu Dhabi United Group, which acquired the club in 2008, City collected eight Premier League titles and a European Champions League crown over the past fifteen years. The regulatory crisis arrives just months after long-serving manager Pep Guardiola departed the Etihad following a decade of domestic dominance.
