Several English Premier League clubs have begun consulting with lawyers to assess the possibility of seeking compensation from Manchester City for alleged financial losses. This follows reports by The Athletic and the BBC that an independent commission found the club guilty on 114 of 115 charges relating to the period from 2009 to 2018.

There has been no official confirmation of the published verdict from Manchester City. The club stated that the proceedings with the Premier League are ongoing and that key aspects of the case have yet to be finalized. The team has also repeatedly denied all charges and, according to The Shillong Times, citing a source familiar with the situation, intends to appeal the guilty verdict. The source estimates that the appeals process could take several months.

Clubs Assess Potential Damages

According to The Athletic, representatives from several Premier League teams have retained lawyers to assess the extent of potential losses. This could involve revenue that the clubs believe they lost due to Manchester City’s competitive advantage. Specifically, potential claims may relate to failure to qualify for the Champions League, as well as lost television and ticket revenue.

The impact of competition results on commercial contracts is being considered separately. According to sources interviewed by the publication, failing to win a trophy or secure a spot in European competitions could have resulted in lost bonuses from sponsors. However, the specific clubs involved, the amounts of potential claims, and the legal grounds for future lawsuits have not yet been disclosed.

Participants in the discussions cite the Everton case as a precedent. Previously, an independent commission ordered that club to pay Burnley 35.1 million pounds after violations of profitability and sustainability rules were found to have provided a competitive advantage. However, formal claims against Manchester City are unlikely to be considered until all appeal proceedings have been concluded.

What Manchester City Is Accused Of

The Premier League has brought more than 100 charges against the club following a four-year investigation. In February 2023, Manchester City was accused of providing misleading financial information over a nine-year period, as well as failing to cooperate sufficiently with the investigation.

The investigation relates to financial control rules designed to limit clubs’ spending to their revenue and to assess whether commercial transactions are in line with market conditions. The allegations were based, in part, on documents and emails published since 2018, the origin of which the club disputed. The materials alleged that Manchester City may have concealed the source of some of its revenue from transactions linked to Abu Dhabi.

During the period covered by the allegations, the team won the English Premier League in 2012, 2014, and 2018. In total, Manchester City has won eight Premier League titles since 2012 and, in 2023, won the Champions League for the first time. Sources do not consider the issue of a possible review of the results of those seasons to be settled.

Sanctions have not yet been determined

According to media reports, the commission has not yet determined the punishment. Possible options include a significant points deduction, which could affect the club’s standing in the league, and, in the most severe scenario, expulsion from the Premier League. These measures remain under discussion and have not been officially announced.

The Premier League declined to comment on reports regarding the verdict. Manchester City cited confidentiality and stated that its position remains unchanged: the club expects an independent and impartial regulator to follow due process.

Manchester City has previously had a dispute with UEFA over financial fair play. In 2020, the European soccer governing body found serious violations of the rules for the period from 2012 to 2016, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the club’s two-year ban from European competitions, ruling that some of the allegations were unsubstantiated or time-barred. As noted in various reports, Premier League rules provide for a separate procedure and do not have the same time limits.