Man City Found Guilty on Majority of 115 Charges — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Manchester City were found guilty on the majority of their 115 financial rule breach charges, with the verdict broken by The Athletic after the independent panel's decision was sent to club executives who had to sign non-disclosure agreements.
- The charges include 7 separate Premier League PSR breaches and 5 UEFA-related charges spanning 2009-2018 — a period during which City won three league titles — with possible sanctions ranging from points deductions and fines to Premier League membership revocation.
- City visit Liverpool on 11 October and could go six points clear at the top of the table before any punishment is levied, since a sanctioning hearing is likely still months away and an appeal is expected.
- Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly preserved their rights to claim compensation two years ago, with Professor Kieran Maguire estimating Champions League qualification claims alone at £30m-70m per season in prize money, plus gate receipts, sponsor bonuses, and player bonuses worth roughly 25% of salaries.
- Everton were ordered to pay Burnley £35m in a parallel PSR compensation case, establishing a precedent for rival clubs seeking damages over lost Premier League prize money and European qualification earnings.
- City successfully overturned their UEFA Financial Fair Play punishment on appeal in July 2020, a precedent that suggests any final resolution could be delayed long after this season ends.
- Premier League rules allow clubs to seek legal action against each other for compensation, though the statute of limitations is not referenced in the league's handbook and could itself become a legal battleground.
Why it matters: With City potentially six points clear by 11 October and a sanctioning hearing still months away, the Premier League risks playing out an entire season under an unresolved verdict — while Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham have already preserved compensation rights, with Champions League qualification claims alone estimated at £30-70m per season.
Ask SkimNews
