Premier League New Season Countdown: Why Is the Verdict on Manchester City's 115 Financial Breach Charges Still Pending?

The holiday has ended once again, and that emergency laptop remains quietly tucked away at the bottom of the backpack. The next holiday will likely suffer the same fate. Three sunny vacations plus a few weekend getaways have all been spent under the shadow of waiting—waiting for Manchester City to finally shake off the entanglement of those 115 financial breach charges. Every time asked, "Why do you bring a laptop on holiday?" the answer remains the same: "One day, the verdict from that three-person panel will arrive, and it will probably come just as I'm lying on a beach sunbathing."

Now, nearly 21 months have passed since that three-person panel held hearings on the Premier League's 115 charges against Manchester City (the hearings took place from September 16 to December 6, 2024). The charges include: failing to provide up-to-date and accurate financial information, breaching the league's Profit and Sustainability Rules, and refusing to cooperate with investigations. As for when Manchester City, the Premier League, and even the entire football world will know the outcome of the most significant disciplinary case in Premier League history, no one yet knows.

This process has been so protracted that people have begun to measure it by major life events. The fact that a personal holiday was ruined by what seems like an endless wait highlights the absurd situation English football now finds itself in. But more seriously, since Manchester City was publicly charged in February 2023, three full Premier League seasons have passed, and the fourth is about to kick off, while justice—for both Manchester City and the Premier League—is still being delayed, and thus denied.

In the three and a half years since the charges were made public, Manchester City has spent £690 million on new players and lifted six major trophies, including two domestic league titles and one Champions League crown. While Manchester City (which vehemently denies all charges) was expanding its squad at a staggering pace, Newcastle United, over the same period, was forced to sell some of its core players to comply with Premier League rules. Elite stars such as Bruno Guimarães, Alexander Isak, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and Elliot Anderson (the latter moving to Nottingham Forest for a cut-price £35 million in July 2024) all left, simply because Newcastle had to abide by the rules that Manchester City is accused of ignoring and breaching for nine years (2009-2018).

Manchester City would reasonably argue that, despite the pending verdict, they have the right to recruit as they wish, as they are innocent until proven guilty. Outside the Etihad Stadium, sources at several clubs have told foreign media of their frustration—to put it mildly—at the independent commission's failure to deliver a verdict after such a lengthy process.

However, this process is not as simple as many hoped or assumed. Yes, it could become clear at any moment, but it could also drag on for months or even years. No one—neither the Premier League nor Manchester City—knows when it will end. Foreign media learned in March 2025 that some senior Manchester City staff had been warned they might be forced to cancel their holidays due to the expected imminent verdict. Now, 17 months later, the waiting game continues.

But this is no longer just a Premier League matter, as the case is in the hands of the hearing panel and lawyers, and the circumstances are complex. Since the commission hearings in September 2024, both Manchester City and the Premier League have lost control of the case timeline. Insiders say there are over 500,000 pieces of written evidence, including emails, financial records, and statements, which each panel member must digest, understand, and base their decisions on before delivering a verdict. Additionally, the three panel members have other commitments, meaning this extraordinarily important and far-reaching case is just one of many legal matters they need to assess. They are certainly not locked in a room and told not to leave until a verdict is reached.

And when the panel members do reach a verdict (if they ever do), their report must also be reviewed by the legal teams of the Premier League and Manchester City, followed by redaction of sensitive information before publication. None of these steps can be rushed. In fact, given the extensive forensic accounting involved, it is not uncommon for hearings of this nature to take years to resolve.

Manchester City faces 54 charges of failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information between 2009 and 2018; 14 charges of failing to provide accurate financial reports on player and coach remuneration during the same period; 5 charges of failing to comply with UEFA financial regulations; 7 charges of breaching the Premier League's PSR rules (2015-2018); and 35 charges of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations (2018-2023). This is a lengthy list of charges, which explains why clubs including Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Chelsea (which faced fewer alleged breaches) have already gone through the entire process of being charged, found guilty, and punished in the same timeframe that Manchester City is still awaiting its fate.

Manchester City's case is a massive investigation stemming from emails allegedly leaked by convicted Portuguese hacker Rui Pinto, published by foreign media in 2018. The hearing is merely the "beginning of the end," not the "end of the beginning." Even if the verdict is imminent, it should not be overlooked: both Manchester City and the Premier League have 14 days to appeal the ruling, and an appeal would be heard by a new three-person panel.

What does all this mean? Essentially, we must prepare for more seasons to come, more players arriving and departing, and more holidays with an emergency laptop bag—until, finally, the Premier League, Manchester City, and the entire sports world can look back at the 115 charges in the rearview mirror and deal with the consequences. Whatever the outcome, it will be the most influential verdict in English football history.