Rival clubs could sue Manchester City over 115 charges verdict

Premier League clubs are weighing legal action against Manchester City after the club was found guilty on 114 of 115 charges of breaching the league’s financial regulations, according to a report from The Athletic.

A verdict emerged on Friday — first reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic and corroborated by outlets including the Guardian, CNN, Reuters and ESPN — after an independent commission ruled on charges first brought in February 2023 covering alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. No sanctions have been decided, and City are expected to appeal.

In a fresh update, The Athletic reports that a number of rival clubs have already held conversations with leading lawyers about the case and that there is dialogue between teams. Legal firms have told clubs they would be eligible for compensation in the event of a guilty finding, and they could seek damages jointly — effectively a class action. Clubs that missed out on Champions League qualification could argue they lost significant revenue as a result.

The report points to a precedent: an independent commission ordered Everton to pay Burnley £35.1 million after Everton’s breach of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules in the 2021/22 campaign.

Legal action cannot commence until the appeals process has played out, though punishments can be applied in the meantime. City maintain their position that the process “remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed”, consistent with their February 2023 statement.

Sources

• SportBible, “Man City to face legal action from Premier League clubs as update delivered”, 25 September 2026 (reporting The Athletic)
• CNN, “Manchester City found guilty of majority of Premier League financial breaches charges, according to reports”, 25 September 2026
• NBC Sports, “Report: Manchester City found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations”, 25 September 2026