Man City refuses to deny Premier League breaches guilty verdicts

Manchester City did not deny on Friday that there has been a guilty verdict in the majority of charges regarding financial breaches in their legal case with the Premier League. Both the club and the Premier League have been approached by ESPN following media reports that City has been found guilty on 114 of 115 counts by an independent panel. When contacted by ESPN, the Premier League stated that they would not comment on a "private and confidential process." City also did not deny that they were informed of the panel's decision. Instead, they released a statement insisting that the process "remains ongoing."

A source informed ESPN that City sought an injunction on Friday to prevent initial reporting of the verdict. However, City strongly denied this claim. It is expected that City, which could face penalties including a fine, points deduction, or even expulsion from the Premier League, will appeal any guilty verdict.

A statement issued by City on Friday read: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and is subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC's position remains consistent with the club's statement of February 2023. The club has diligently respected due process for eight years based on the expectation that the Premier League Board and Executive would operate as an independent, impartial, and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."

The Premier League had announced the charges against City in February 2023 following a four-year investigation. The case was heard at an independent hearing at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, which began in September 2024 and concluded in December 2024 after 12 weeks of deliberation. The alleged breaches of financial regulations were said to have occurred over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. The Premier League's case was centered around their belief that City did not provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position."

Throughout the process, City has maintained their innocence. In February 2020, City was found guilty of violating UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules and received a two-year ban from European competition, along with a €30 million fine. However, this suspension was lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) five months later, and the fine was reduced to €10 million.