According to The Independent, City could hear whether they have been found guilty of the alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules in October. The report claims that there are “growing murmurs” across Premier League boardrooms that a verdict is imminent, with employees at City – who strongly deny the charges – having become “inured to the prospect”.
It is alleged that City breached the league’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. They werecharged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation. Following the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League. The club have also clinched three FA Cups, six League Cups, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup under their current owners.
The hearing into the 115 charges took place between September 2024 and December 2024, with a verdict yet to arrive. When asked in February this year when he thought a decision might arrive, City manager Pep Guardiola said: “In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far.”
Speaking in September 2024, when the hearing was about to begin, Guardiola said he agreed with Javier Tebas, president of La Liga and a critic of City, that the rest of the Premier League wanted to see his side punished for the alleged breaches.
“For the first time I agree with Tebas,” Guardiola said. “All the Premier League teams want us to be sanctioned, that is for sure. But that’s why I say to Mr Tebas and the Premier League teams, wait for the independent panel.
“Justice is there in a modern democracy. It’s not more complicated than that.
“I don’t know if he is a lawyer or the rest of the Premier League teams are lawyers, so I ask for that. It happened with UEFA.
“We believe we have not done anything wrong.”
City reached a settlement with the Premier League in their dispute over associated party transactions (APT) in September this year. City accepted the rules that govern commercial deals are “valid and binding”, with both the club and the Premier League agreeing to terminate proceedings.
A joint statement read: “The Premier League and Manchester City FC have reached a settlement in relation to the arbitration commenced by the club earlier this year concerning the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) Rules and as a result the parties have agreed to terminate the proceedings.
“This settlement brings an end to the dispute between the parties regarding the APT Rules. As part of the settlement, Manchester City accepts that the current APT Rules are valid and binding.
“It has been agreed that neither the Premier League nor the club will be making any further comment about the matter.”
While the wait for the outcome of the hearing drags on, City have been in good form on the pitch. Bouncing back from a start to the 2025-26 campaign which saw them suffer back-to-back league defeats against Tottenham and Brighton, Guardiola’s men have since put together a seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions. City have won four of their seven league games this season, including a 3-0 victory over rivals Manchester United, while they have also collected four points from their first two Champions League fixtures against Napoli and Monaco respectively.
City are next in action when they play host to Everton on October 18, following the conclusion of the international break. They will then travel to face Villarreal in their next Champions League game on October 21.
