Manchester City found guilty — titles at risk and severe sanctions possible

Manchester City have been found guilty by an independent panel of breaching Premier League financial rules, a development revealed on 25 September 2026 by David Ornstein. The decision concludes a disciplinary process opened by the league in 2023 that relates to alleged infringements between 2009 and 2018.

During the disputed period, City won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups; the fate of those honours is now uncertain as the panel concluded the club was responsible for almost all of the charges brought against it. The club was also accused of failing to cooperate with the investigation.

Sanctions under consideration

The Premier League has not fixed a standard penalty schedule for breaches of this scale, meaning a range of punishments is possible and the final sanction will be decided by league authorities. Options being discussed include:

• stripping of titles won in the disputed period
• points deductions
• substantial fines
• transfer bans
• relegation to a lower division

When lesser breaches were punished in recent seasons, the usual sanction was points deductions: for example, Everton and Nottingham Forest were docked four points during the 2023/24 campaign for breaches of financial rules. Because the allegations against City are described as much more serious, more drastic penalties are now being considered.

It remains unclear which specific penalty will be applied. The Premier League’s deliberate avoidance of fixed, pre-determined punishments is intended to prevent clubs from calculating that intentional breaches are worth the risk if the consequences were known in advance, and it leaves the full spectrum of outcomes open.

Manager Enzo Maresca and his squad now face the prospect of competitive and reputational sanctions while the league determines the appropriate sanctioning course of action.

Photo: press material from the event