Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty on 114 of the 115 Premier League charges brought against them, a verdict years in the making and still not the end of the case. Sanctions have not yet been decided, and both sides knew they would have 14 days to appeal. So while the headline is huge, the process is still moving.

The charges related to alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. City were formally charged in February 2023, and a 12-week hearing was then held in front of a three-person independent commission between September and December of 2024.

The verdict is huge, but it settles only one part

A finding of guilt on 114 charges is the big development, and there is no dressing that up as routine football administration. It is a major moment in the Premier League's longest-running disciplinary case.

But the case is not finished because the punishment phase still has to follow. Reports also say clubs were told that a verdict had been reached after the Premier League meeting on Thursday, which explains why the public story has shifted so quickly from waiting on an outcome to asking what comes next.

City's public line is exactly what you would expect from a club preparing for the next stage. A Manchester City spokesperson, quoted by mirror.co.uk, said: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023."

That is a clear sign this will not end with one headline. A 14-day appeal window gives both sides room to challenge the verdict before any final outcome on sanctions arrives.

The timeline shows why this has dragged on

This case has always been slow, and the timeline explains why it could keep running. The formal charges came in February 2023, but the allegations themselves cover a much longer period, with the Premier League case focused on alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.

The hearing alone lasted 12 weeks. That process ran between September and December of 2024, in front of a three-person independent commission, which is a reminder that this has been treated as a substantial legal and regulatory fight rather than a quick internal disciplinary matter.

Richard Masters made that point when he spoke about the timing. Quoted by independent.co.uk, the Premier League chief executive said: "They are then in charge of the process and its timings. They hear the case, they decide the outcome and we have no influence over it or its timing. My frustration is irrelevant really, I just have to wait. Legal processes rarely take less time than you anticipated. But we have to be patient."

That patience now extends into the sanction phase and, very likely, into an appeal process as well.

City's defence is not changing

City's stance remains rooted in process and fairness, not concession. In a separate statement quoted by standard.co.uk, a Manchester City spokesperson said: "The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence."

That tells you where the next battle is likely to sit. City are not framing this as a case they accept and move on from. They are framing it as one they will continue to contest through the mechanisms still available.

So the verdict is enormous, but it is only one stage. The live facts are these: 114 of 115 charges reportedly upheld, sanctions still not decided, and a 14-day appeal window that can keep this case moving well beyond Thursday's notice to clubs.

FAQ

What happens next after the Manchester City charges verdict?

The verdict does not end the process. Sanctions have still not been decided, and both sides knew they would have 14 days to appeal. That means the next stage is likely to focus on punishment and whether the case moves into another legal round before anything is settled.

Why is the Manchester City Premier League case still not finished?

Even after the reported verdict, the case remains open because punishment has not yet been determined and there is a 14-day appeal window. Manchester City have also stressed that the process is still ongoing, while the Premier League has said the independent panel controls the timing and outcome.

How long has the Manchester City charges case been going on?

Manchester City were formally charged in February 2023 over alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. A 12-week hearing then took place in front of a three-person independent commission between September and December of 2024, and the verdict was only communicated after a Premier League meeting on Thursday.

Have Manchester City already been punished for the Premier League charges?

No. The reported verdict concerns 114 of 115 charges, but sanctions have not yet been decided. Reports also say both sides have 14 days to appeal, so any punishment phase can still be delayed while the case moves through the next part of the process.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 9 outlets. How we work →