Skip to content

Premier League clubs seek legal advice after Manchester City guilty verdict

sportsSep 26, 202630399

Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice about potential compensation claims after an independent panel found Manchester City guilty of the majority of 115 financial rule breaches, with reports saying 114 counts were upheld. City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023; the panel’s ruling comes 1,327 days after those charges and 22 months after the commission hearing ended. The Premier League has not made an official announcement; a select group of club directors were emailed the decision and required to sign nondisclosure agreements to read it. Clubs are weighing individual claims against Manchester City, though a leading lawyer told the BBC the league could centralize any compensation process. The case raises possible sanctions including points deductions sufficient to cause relegation, large fines or expulsion; a sanctions hearing is required and could take months, followed by an appeal. Some City players reportedly lack relegation release clauses in their contracts, complicating player futures if points penalties lead to relegation. The Everton v Burnley precedent, Burnley were awarded £35m over PSR breaches, a decision Everton are appealing, is cited as a model for compensation claims.

3 sources