Manchester City have reportedly been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League, bringing one of English football’s longest-running financial cases to a crucial new stage. But despite the headline, City have not yet been stripped of any trophies, and the punishment has not been decided.
The club is expected to appeal the findings. That means the immediate question is not simply whether Manchester City will lose their titles, but what sanctions could eventually be imposed and whether any retrospective punishment survives the appeal process.
What’s actually true about the Man City verdict?
The reported decision follows a four-year Premier League investigation into alleged financial rule breaches covering the period from 2009 to 2018.
Manchester City were formally charged in February 2023. The case was then heard by an independent commission between September and December 2024. The commission has reportedly now reached its findings, with BBC Sport reporting that the majority of the charges were upheld and The Athletic reporting that 114 of the 115 charges were proven.
However, the Premier League has not yet published the commission’s full decision or announced the punishment. City have also indicated that the process remains ongoing and have said they will appeal.
The original allegations covered areas including financial information, player and manager payments, UEFA financial rules, Premier League profitability rules and cooperation with the league’s investigation.
So the phrase “City have been found guilty” should not be confused with “City have been stripped of their trophies”. Those are separate stages.
Could Manchester City have their Premier League titles taken away?
Yes, retrospective removal of honours is a potential sanction, but it is not an automatic consequence of the reported findings.
The period covered by the charges includes three of City’s Premier League titles: 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18. City also won other domestic trophies during the relevant period.
Whether any of those honours are removed will depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the independent process and the outcome of City’s appeal.
This is an important distinction because social media discussions have sometimes presented the titles as though they have already been reassigned. That has not happened.
There is also no simple rule saying that a stripped Premier League title automatically goes to the club that finished second. Any retrospective change to the historical record would depend on the rules and the final decision.
What happens next?
The biggest development now is the expected appeal.
Sky Sports reports that the case is moving towards the appeal stage, while BBC Sport says City will appeal the findings.
Only after the disciplinary process and any appeal are dealt with will the consequences become clearer. Possible sanctions discussed in reporting include financial penalties, points deductions and other sporting punishments, with expulsion from the Premier League also having been raised as a potential sanction.
There is another developing issue: other Premier League clubs have reportedly sought legal advice about possible compensation claims connected with the case. That is a separate question from whether City lose trophies.
The biggest misconceptions about the case
“114 guilty charges means City have automatically lost 114 trophies.”
No. The number of charges and the number of trophies are completely different things. The charges concern alleged breaches of different Premier League rules across multiple seasons.
“The titles have already been given to Manchester United or Liverpool.”
No. Any retrospective redistribution remains a matter for the relevant authorities and the final disciplinary outcome.
“The case is over because the commission has reached its decision.”
Not necessarily. The reported finding is a major development, but the sanctions and appeal process still matter.
“Every trophy won during the period must be removed.”
That also cannot be assumed. The eventual punishment has not been announced.
What should fans expect now?
For the moment, the safest approach is to separate the reported findings from the eventual punishment.
Manchester City have been reported as guilty of almost all of the charges, but the club remains entitled to challenge the decision through the available appeal process. Until that process is completed, claims that particular Premier League titles have definitely been removed should be treated cautiously.
The next authoritative information to watch for is the publication of the commission’s decision, the sanctions imposed and the outcome of any appeal.
The bottom line
The 114-of-115 figure represents a major development in the Manchester City case, but it does not mean their Premier League titles have already been taken away.
Three City Premier League titles fall within the period investigated, and retrospective punishment is possible. However, the final sanctions have yet to be established, and City are expected to appeal.
For supporters and the wider football community, the decisive question is therefore still ahead: what punishment will ultimately be imposed, and will it survive the appeal process?