Manchester City’s appeal against a verdict over more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations could determine whether the club faces a points deduction, transfer ban and potentially relegation, according to sports law specialist Yasin Patel.
City has maintained that it is innocent and said the commission’s decision contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe”. The club has also insisted that a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” supports its position.
The charges followed a four-year investigation and relate to the period from 2009 to 2018. The hearing began behind closed doors in September 2024 and concluded after around 12 weeks in December that year.
The Premier League alleges that City failed to provide accurate financial information giving a true and fair view of its financial position. The case covers eight trophies won by the club, including three Premier League titles, during the managerial reigns of Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola’s first two seasons.
Manchester City appeal and possible sanctions
The allegations include 54 breaches concerning financial information, 14 relating to details of payments to players and managers, five involving Uefa rules including Financial Fair Play, seven linked to the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, and 35 alleged failures to co-operate with the investigation.
Patel said City was likely to argue that an additional £830 million did not come from its owners, but from sponsors and the Abu Dhabi Government. The club is also expected to contend that the commission wrongly treated certain commercial arrangements as illegitimate without properly questioning the third parties involved.
The Premier League has alleged that Abu Dhabi United Group, the private investment company belonging to Sheikh Mansour, topped up commercial deals as part of a “disguised funding scheme”. The claim is that this enabled City to appear to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial regulations.
Patel said a successful appeal could lead to a punishment that was less severe than the sanctions currently being predicted. However, he expects the club to face substantial financial penalties if the findings are upheld.
“I anticipate that there will be very large fines,” Patel said. “There will be points deductions for a minimum of this season, it is possible that there may even be a points deduction for the following season and probably a transfer ban as well.”
He added that the scale of a points deduction could result in relegation, while a suspended deduction for future seasons could also be considered based on the club’s conduct.
Any action by the Football Association against City or individuals would be expected only after the disciplinary proceedings and appeal process had concluded, Patel said.
Potential claims from rival clubs
Several clubs have indicated that they could pursue legal action if the allegations against City are ultimately upheld. Patel said relegated clubs, including Norwich and Hull, could argue that earlier action by the Premier League might have changed their fate.
Such clubs would need to establish that City’s alleged conduct directly caused them financial losses connected to relegation. Patel said a collective claim could be more practical than separate actions brought by individual clubs.
Clubs that missed out on European football could also seek compensation if they were affected by City taking a Champions League position or by the outcome of domestic cup competitions. Wigan and Watford were cited as possible examples from the relevant seasons.
City’s separate legal dispute with the Premier League over Associated Party Transaction rules was settled in September 2025. The club accepted that the rules were valid and binding, and both sides agreed to end the proceedings.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak immunity claim
Questions have also been raised about whether City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak benefits from diplomatic immunity. Patel said such protection could prevent legal proceedings or coercive measures being taken against him personally, including requiring him to answer questions about the case.
He stressed, however, that immunity would not amount to a finding of innocence or make alleged unlawful conduct lawful. People with diplomatic privileges remain obliged to respect the laws of the receiving state, subject to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Patel also said Al Mubarak’s position would be separate from any assessment of City’s ownership. The question of whether the club’s owners pass the Premier League’s fit and proper person test would remain distinct from the issue of diplomatic protection.
“The test is designed to protect the image and integrity of the league and the clubs that play in it,” Patel said. “The question will be whether the owners of Man City pass this test.”
