Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-26
The Premier League has announced that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of 114 charges relating to historical financial misconduct. The verdict, delivered on 26 September 2026, follows a four-year investigation into the club's financial practices between 2009 and 2018. The charges include failure to provide accurate financial information, non-cooperation with investigators, and breaches of profit and sustainability rules. The commission's ruling is subject to appeal, but sources close to the process indicate that the evidence was deemed 'overwhelming'.
The charges stem from allegations first published by Der Spiegel in 2018, based on leaked emails and documents. Initially the Premier League brought 115 charges, but one was dropped during proceedings. The charges cover multiple seasons in which Manchester City won Premier League titles and domestic cups. The club has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the leaked documents were taken out of context or fabricated. However, the commission found that City's explanations were 'inconsistent and unreliable', particularly regarding payments made to players and staff via off-the-books arrangements.
The sanctions are yet to be finalised, but the Premier League has indicated it will seek a points deduction that could relegate the club to the Championship. In addition, the commission may recommend stripping titles won during the period in question. If implemented, this would mark the most severe punishment ever handed to a top-flight English club. The Premier League's chief executive said the verdict 'restores faith in the regulatory framework' and emphasised that 'no club is above the rules'. UEFA had previously banned City from European competitions for two seasons in 2020, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned that ban on procedural grounds, a decision that now looks premature in light of the new findings.
From a liberal-conservative perspective, the case raises important questions about the balance between free-market competition and regulatory oversight. On one hand, Manchester City's ownership – the Abu Dhabi United Group – injected enormous capital into the club, driving commercial success and raising the league's global profile. This is consistent with the principle of free enterprise. On the other hand, the rules of the competition are the bedrock of any market: when breaches are deliberate and systematic, they undermine the level playing field that allows genuine competition to flourish. The FORTIS editorial line holds that the state should not interfere excessively in markets, but it must enforce contracts and rules transparently. Here, the Premier League acted as the enforcer of its own rules, which is legitimate. However, the inconsistent application of sanctions across clubs – and the delay in bringing charges – creates a perception of arbitrary power. A truly liberal-conservative approach would advocate for clear, predictable regulations applied uniformly to all clubs, regardless of their ownership structure or political influence. The fact that City escaped European punishment on a technicality only to be hit domestically suggests the need for a single, independent regulator with teeth.