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Manchester City are likely to appeal after being found guilty of most of the charges brought against them by the Premier League – but there are concerns that the conclusion of the saga is still a long way off
Premier League clubs fear that Manchester City’s fall will continue into next season.
City are certain to appeal before Friday’s deadline and they confirm they will launch a massive legal battle to remove the club’s name after being found guilty of breaching Premier League spending rules. That sets up another long chapter in the City saga, which has been running since 2018, when the allegations were first published and the Premier League first handed down the 115 charges in February 2023.
The Premier League have said they will deal with the appeal as soon as possible, but there is no current time frame for when it will be completed.
This led to major fears that it could drag on and with City still playing for the title and that would be a nightmare scenario if they were crowned champions, having already been found guilty.
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The city is aware they are fighting and members of the hierarchy – including President Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano – have publicly said they will fight it all the way in what has become an increasingly bitter battle. They also have the prospect of other clubs seeking damages against them, which could run into the hundreds of millions and that will continue to drag on.
The Premier League could oust City from the top flight, but some clubs believe a huge points deduction – which would see them relegated – and lengthy transfer ban is a more likely course of action.
City’s owners could also be sacked by the club under strong new powers from the Independent Football Regulator.
Sports lawyer Yasin Patel, of Church Court Chambers, said: “If the current situation in relation to sanctions and appeals can be finalized this football season, it would be some achievement, as one would expect Manchester City’s appeal process to take some time.
“In relation to other clubs seeking compensation, we can safely say that unless a collective agreement or agreement is reached, this will stretch well into 2027 and more likely 2028.”
Meanwhile, WSL title-winners City are yet to be affected and manager Andree Jeglertz said this week it was “business as usual.”
Clearly, they are under the same club umbrella and there is no ongoing WSL investigation as the allegations – dating from 2009 to 2018 – predate the WSL. The Football Association are likely to step in as governors of the game in England at some point, but it is at that point that wider issues for the club come under scrutiny rather than just the Premier League’s seniors.
So far it has been a Premier League investigation. The FA launched the Women’s Super League in 2011, but the WSL effectively took over as a separate entity in 2024.
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