Manchester City face a major new development in the Manchester City 115 Charges case. Reports say an independent commission found the club responsible for 114 of the 115 alleged breaches. Manchester City have denied wrongdoing throughout the case.
The Premier League brought the charges in February 2023. They cover financial information, player and manager payments, UEFA rules, sustainability rules and cooperation with the investigation.
Here is a clear look at the latest reports, the charges, the legal process and what could happen next.
Manchester City 115 Charges: Latest Update
Reports on September 25, 2026, said an independent commission had reached its decision in the long-running case. The Athletic reported that City were found responsible for 114 of the 115 alleged breaches. Reuters and BBC Sport also reported the development.
However, the full written decision has not yet been published. The Premier League has also not publicly confirmed the reported findings. Its rules state that commission proceedings remain confidential and that the final award will be published after the proceedings conclude.
The sanctions also remain undecided. Therefore, the reported liability findings do not yet mean that City have received a points deduction, fine or other sporting punishment.
What Are the 115 Charges Against Manchester City?
In February 2023, the Premier League referred 115 alleged breaches to an independent commission. The allegations cover several areas of the club’s conduct.
Here is the reported breakdown based on the Premier League’s original charge structure:
| Category | Alleged Charges | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Financial information | 54 | 2009/10–2017/18 |
| Player and manager remuneration | 14 | 2009/10–2015/16 |
| UEFA regulations | 5 | 2013/14–2017/18 |
| Premier League PSR | 7 | 2015/16–2017/18 |
| Cooperation with investigation | 35 | December 2018–2022/23 |
| Total | 115 |
The first group covers alleged failures to provide accurate financial information. The next 14 allegations concern player and manager remuneration.
The five UEFA-related allegations cover the 2013/14 through 2017/18 seasons. In addition, seven allegations concern the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
The final 35 allegations relate to Manchester City’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation from December 2018 onward.
What Standard of Proof Applies to the Manchester City 115 Charges?
The independent Premier League commission assesses the 115 allegations under a civil standard of proof rather than the criminal standard. Therefore, the Premier League must establish each alleged breach on the balance of probabilities.
In simple terms, the commission must find that the evidence makes an alleged breach more likely than not. This differs from the criminal standard, which requires proof beyond reasonable doubt.
The standard matters when assessing the reported findings in the case. It explains the legal framework the commission used to assess the financial records, contracts, and other evidence linked to the allegations.
When Was the Manchester City 115 Charges Hearing?
The Premier League referred the 115 alleged breaches to an independent commission in February 2023. The hearing itself began in September 2024 and concluded in December 2024.
After the hearing ended, the commission considered the evidence and prepared its decision. Reports of the decision on the 115 alleged Premier League breaches emerged on September 25, 2026.
However, the independent Premier League commission has not yet published the full written decision or its reasoning.
Manchester City 115 Charges: Key Dates
The Manchester City 115 Charges case has developed over several years, from the period covered by the allegations to the latest reported findings.
The timeline helps put the investigation, hearing and current stage of the case into context. Here are the key dates to know:
- 2009/10: Start of the financial period covered by the main allegations.
- 2017/18: End of the main financial and UEFA charge period.
- December 2018: The alleged non-cooperation period begins.
- February 6, 2023: Premier League refers the charges to an independent commission.
- September 2024: The hearing begins.
- December 2024: The hearing concludes.
- September 25, 2026: Reports state that the independent commission found 114 of the 115 allegations proven.
What Punishment Could Manchester City Face?
No final punishment has been announced yet. Under Premier League disciplinary rules, the independent commission can impose fines, deduct points and apply other sporting sanctions. It can also recommend expulsion from the Premier League.
A points deduction could affect current or historical standings. As a result, reports have raised the possibility of retrospective penalties.
However, no decision has been made to strip Manchester City of points or affect their Premier League standing in the current 2026/27 campaign, as the sanctions hearing phase has not yet taken place.
The club continues to compete normally while the legal process moves toward the penalty and appeal stages.
City won three titles during the main period covered by the charges: 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18. The final sanction and any appeal will determine whether the findings affect those titles.
How Would Manchester City Appeal?
Manchester City are expected to appeal the reported findings and any sanctions that follow. The club has not treated the reported decision as the end of the process.
The appeal would go through the Premier League’s internal process. Under Section W of the Premier League Rules, a party can challenge an independent commission’s decision before an Appeal Board.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) does not handle this Premier League case. Man City previously took a separate UEFA case to CAS in 2020, but the current process provides for an internal Premier League Appeal Board.
As a result, City would need to use that appeal route if it challenges the commission’s findings or any sanctions.
Both Manchester City and the Premier League have 14 days to appeal after the formal judgment, although the timeline will depend on when the commission publishes its decision.
Could Rival Clubs Seek Compensation?
The Manchester City 115 Charges case could also create a separate issue for other Premier League clubs.
BBC Sport reported on September 25 that several clubs had already sought legal advice about possible compensation claims connected to the Manchester City case.
However, a reported finding against City would not automatically give another club compensation. Any separate claim would still need to establish a legal basis, prove loss and causation, and meet any applicable limitation requirements.
Premier League disciplinary rules may also allow an independent commission to order compensation in appropriate cases. Even so, any future compensation proceedings would remain separate from Manchester City’s disciplinary appeal.
What Has Manchester City Said?
Manchester City have continued to deny wrongdoing throughout the case. After reports of the commission’s decision emerged, the club said the Premier League process remained ongoing and stressed that significant steps were still pending.
City also noted that the proceedings remained confidential. As a result, the club is expected to challenge the reported findings through the Premier League’s appeal process.
What Happens Next in the Manchester City 115 Charges Case?
The next major step is the formal publication of the commission’s decision and its reasoning. Once the decision is published, the sanctioning stage will determine what punishment, if any, Manchester City receive.
After the sanctions are decided, Manchester City can use the Premier League’s internal appeal process.
For now, the reported 114 findings mark a major development, but they do not settle the case. The final sanctions and any appeal outcome will determine the longer-term consequences for the club.
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Final Thoughts
The Manchester City 115 Charges case has reached a major stage after years of investigation and legal proceedings. Reports state that the commission ruled against Manchester City on 114 of the 115 alleged breaches, but it has not yet published the formal written decision.
The next stage will focus on the sanctions, followed by any appeal from Manchester City. Until those steps finish, the final sporting and financial consequences for the club remain unclear.
For football fans, the full decision will provide the clearest picture of the findings and the reasons behind them. It will also show how the Premier League handles one of its most significant financial disciplinary cases.
