Man City found guilty of 114 Premier League charges – reports

City has become a dominant force in English soccer since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008.(AFP) — Manchester City has been found guilty of all but one of the 115 Premier League charges it faced over alleged breaches of financial regulations, The Athletic reported Friday.No sanction has been decided, and City is expected to appeal, according to the report. The findings have not been publicly released.The outcome of a hearing that began in 2024 could send shock waves through English soccer and raise questions about the legacy of City’s trophy-laden era.The Premier League charged City in 2023 after investigating alleged breaches dating to 2009. The club, which has denied the allegations, was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaching financial sustainability rules.City has become a dominant force in English soccer since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008. It has won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and a Champions League title in the past 15 years.The allegations stem in part from leaked documents published by German news outlet Der Spiegel in 2018. Emails purportedly exchanged by senior City executives suggested the club had inflated sponsorship revenue from Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad and telecommunications company Etisalat by disguising investment from Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group as income.Other documents purported to show undisclosed payments to then-manager Roberto Mancini through consultancy fees from a club in Abu Dhabi.Possible sanctions include a substantial points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League, though no penalty has been announced. Everton and Nottingham Forest received points deductions for single breaches of profit and sustainability rules in the 2023-24 season.A severe punishment could also raise questions about the future of City’s star players, including striker Erling Haaland. Other clubs could seek to have titles stripped or pursue compensation if the findings are upheld and they argue City gained an unfair advantage.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads