Manchester City have lodged their appeal against the verdict that found them guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. A final decision and any punishment are expected by mid-February. Here is how the process works, and what the club could face.
Manchester City have appealed against an independent commission’s verdict that found them guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over nine seasons, ESPN reported.
The club continues to protest its innocence, citing “irrefutable evidence”.
The Timeline So Far
- 2019: the investigation begins
- September 29, 2026: the commission’s judgment is published, 21 months after a 12-week hearing ended
- October 1: City serve notice of appeal, within the 14 days allowed
Who Hears the Appeal
A new three-person Appeal Board will review the case. It is appointed by Sir Gary Hickinbottom, a High Court judge.
Under Premier League rules, one of the three must have held judicial office and will chair the board.
How Long It Will Take
- The appeal must be concluded within 12 weeks of being lodged, which means by December 25 at the latest
- The board must then deliver its verdict within 30 days of the final day of the hearing
Allowing for a holiday shutdown of the legal process over Christmas and New Year, ESPN calculates that a final verdict and any sanctions should come by mid-February at the latest.
Sources told ESPN that a timetable is in place for the case to be resolved by the end of this season.
The Punishment
The sanction will be decided by the original commission, in a process separate from the appeal. Sources said the two are likely to run in parallel, so that penalties can be applied quickly if the appeal fails.
The Premier League’s rules allow for:
- a reprimand
- an unlimited fine
- points deductions
- expulsion from the league
- any combination of these, or any other penalty the commission thinks fit
A Fine of Up to £500 Million
If the verdict is upheld, a very large fine is expected. Sources told ESPN it could be as high as £500 million, because the rule-breaking went on for so long.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said City had “systematically broken the rules for nearly a decade”.
What Expulsion Would Require
The commission, not the clubs, decides the sanction. But if it chose expulsion, the league’s 20 member clubs would vote on whether to accept it, and at least 15 would have to vote yes.
After the Appeal
If the appeal fails, City could still take the case to the High Court, but only if they can show serious irregularities in the Premier League’s disciplinary process.
Neither City nor the Premier League commented to ESPN on the possible sanctions.
Image: Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium (file photo, 2023). Photo by Arne Müseler via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.
