If you thought the absolute circus around Manchester City’s 115 financial rule breaches was finally winding down, hit the brakes. Hard. After two years and ten days of hearings, and a mind-boggling 1,329 days since the charges first dropped, we just got slammed with the news: an independent panel found City guilty of the majority of those breaches. And get this, it wasn’t even the Premier League or City themselves who broke it! The Athletic spilled the tea, with BBC Sport later confirming the verdict was sent to club execs under a non-disclosure agreement. Talk about keeping secrets, right? But some news is just too big to hold.
The Verdict Is In, But The Real Fight’s Just Kicking Off
This isn’t just some minor tap on the wrist; we’re talking a seismic shift. City’s immediate statement made it crystal clear the “process remains ongoing” from their point of view, and an appeal is absolutely expected. They’re not admitting guilt, not backing down from years of strong denials. The Premier League is still publicly silent, which honestly just cranks the uncertainty up to 11. What many of us thought might be the home stretch? Turns out it’s actually just reaching the end of the beginning. Get ready, because the chaos is only going to snowball from here, leaving fans and the rest of us guessing about what punishment actually drops and when this whole mess finally wraps up.
Points Deduction: It’s Coming, And It’s Gonna Be Massive
These charges are so unbelievably serious that a points deduction now looks totally, unequivocally inevitable, even with City’s appeal on the way. The “sanction hearing” to figure out the punishment could still be months out, and results might not even see the light of day until that appeal is done. Everything’s on the table for this independent panel: massive fines, crippling points deductions, and yes, even demotion. Let’s put this in perspective: Everton got slapped with six points, reduced from ten on appeal, then another two in separate cases for “minor” profit and sustainability rule breaches. Nottingham Forest got four points. City, though? They’re staring down seven separate PSR breaches in the Premier League alone, plus five more linked to UEFA competitions, not to mention those alleged inflated sponsorship revenues. That kind of rap sheet just screams a huge, unprecedented points penalty is coming. And unlike Chelsea, who self-reported and admitted guilt to negotiate a deal, City’s years of consistent, strong denials make that kind of settlement seem pretty much impossible here.
What Happens Next? We’re All Still Waiting.
So, Enzo Maresca’s squad is still slated to face Liverpool on October 11 when the Premier League action resumes after the international break. They could potentially go six points clear at the top of the table. But honestly, with all this hanging over them, will that even mean anything? With other clubs possibly gearing up to sue City for compensation and this entire appeals process set to drag on for who knows how long, that potential league lead could be rendered completely meaningless. This whole situation is far from over, and trust me, the drama is just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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