Manchester City face 'drastic' sanctions after guilty verdict

How does Manchester City make money?

Manchester City make money the way most big football clubs do: they sell tickets, TV rights, sponsorships, and merchandise to fans and companies. The club's owner, Sheikh Mansour, bought it in 2008 and has funded success, helping City win eight Premier League titles. More wins bring more fans and sponsors, which brings more money to buy better players, which brings more wins.

Why is the punishment still unknown?

The punishment is unknown because a separate sanctions hearing has not taken place yet, and that process could take months. The verdict itself has not even been officially announced by the Premier League, and City are expected to appeal, which could prolong the uncertainty.

Why did the case take over three years?

We could not find a reliable answer to this yet.

Has any club ever been expelled before?

No club has ever been expelled from the Premier League. Expulsion has only been mentioned as a possibility in City's case, with no precedent set. The league's history shows points deductions instead, such as Portsmouth's nine points in 2008-09 (a penalty for entering administration) and Middlesbrough's three in 1996-97 (for failing to fulfil a fixture).

What happens to a club after 114 guilty verdicts?

The verdict is just the first step. The Premier League must now hold a separate sanctions hearing to decide the punishment, which could take months. Possible penalties range from a points deduction to a hefty fine or even expulsion. City say they will appeal, which could draw the process out even longer.

How do you hide owner money as sponsorship?

Clubs channelled owner money through sponsor companies' accounts, so it appeared as sponsorship revenue instead of direct investment, meeting rules limiting losses. This allegedly hid payments to executives and players too, inflating recorded sponsorship.

How much could rival clubs actually get from City?

Claims would be built on arguing City's breaches cost rivals European qualification, league position or relegation. The precedent is small: Everton was ordered to pay Burnley £35m for a single PSR breach tied to relegation. City's case involves far more charges across a longer period, so compensation could be dramatically larger. One lawyer said the league could centralise claims rather than leave each club to sue alone. Our read: the real aim is not the money but forcing an independent reckoning with how City's spending distorted the competition.

If rivals win damages, who actually pays?

Compensation would come from Manchester City the club, whose revenue as Premier League champions and Champions League winners runs into hundreds of millions a year. The Everton precedent saw the club ordered to pay Burnley £35m directly. But City's case is far larger, spanning more charges and a longer period, so claims could be far bigger, and the league may centralise them rather than have each club sue alone. Our read: any payout would be a dent, not a threat, to a club that has dominated English football for 15 years under Sheikh Mansour's ownership.

What stopped City from being punished the first time this happened?

City were banned from European competition for two years by UEFA in 2020 for breaking financial fair-play rules, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned that ban on appeal. The deeper question is what is different now: the Premier League's charges cover a wider range of breaches, including failing to cooperate with investigations, and the verdict came through a separate independent commission. Our read: the Premier League's process has survived where UEFA's did not, which is why City's own appeal is not seen as likely to wipe out the verdict.

Can City be forced out of the Premier League entirely?

Expulsion is on the table if the appeal fails. Former City chairman David Bernstein said the club cannot stay in the league, calling the ruling "damning beyond belief" and suggesting the board should be suspended. The verdict itself doesn't decide punishment; a separate sanctions hearing will, and could take months. Our read: expulsion is the ceiling, not the likely outcome, but Bernstein's call shows how seriously the league's credibility is seen to be at stake.

Why would the league drag this out if everyone wants it settled fast?

The delay is not indecision but process. The verdict itself does not fix punishment; a separate sanctions hearing must now decide what happens, and that hearing has not even been scheduled, let alone held. On top of that, City have said they will appeal any sanction, and the appeal would run its own course. Former chairman David Bernstein has warned that an appeal dragging on year after year would be a disaster for English football, and the culture secretary has called for a swift resolution, but neither can compel a faster timeline. Our read: the league's credibility is now tied to showing the process is thorough, not quick.

Can other clubs really sue for lost titles?

Yes, rivals can sue. Several Premier League clubs are already seeking legal advice over compensation, and pre-verdict they had begun assessing claims. Precedent exists: in June, Everton was ordered to pay Burnley £35 million for a breach linked to Burnley's relegation (a settlement over financial rules). City's case could involve much larger claims. [e10] [e11] [e1]

Why does the verdict stay secret?

The verdict isn't officially announced because the Premier League has not published the independent panel's written decision. Only select club directors were told, after signing non-disclosure agreements. A written judgment, revealing the panel, is expected later, but no official date has been given.