Football finance expert Kieran Maguire warns that resolving the Premier League’s case against Manchester City could take years as legal battles continue. Manchester City were found guilty by an independent commission last month of breaching 114 Premier League rules through disguised sponsorship deals.
Legal Challenges and Timelines
The independent commission concluded that City boosted their earnings by approximately £900 million between 2009 and 2018 using sham sponsorship deals. Manchester City have appealed the verdict, maintaining their innocence and stating they possess irrefutable evidence proving the sponsorship funds originated from the Abu Dhabi government rather than their owners.
The initial three-man panel rejected this evidence, concluding it was fabricated after the event to hide a disguised funding scheme. However, City hope a newly appointed panel will decide in their favor. Potential penalties range from fines and transfer bans to points deductions, removal of titles, expulsion from the Premier League, and potential removal of the club’s owners by the Independent Football Regulator.
As reported by The I Paper, Manchester City are prepared to utilize every available legal avenue. While the Premier League hopes for a resolution before the conclusion of the 2026/27 season, Maguire notes that a worst-case scenario involving City winning the Premier League trophy while legal proceedings continue cannot be dismissed.
Although the Premier League rulebook dictates that an appeal should take 12 weeks with an additional 30 days allocated for the judgment—pointing to a potential January verdict—Maguire views this timeframe as unrealistic. James Severn, a partner at Pennington Manches Cooper and member of the London Solicitor Litigation Association, describes the January deadline as a stretch, citing the complexity of the case, a 150-page index, and thousands of review documents. Severn explains that all parties will prioritize thoroughness over speed to ensure a careful review of such a high-profile case.
Potential for a Settlement
City retain the right to appeal sanctions following an appeal against the verdict, and may subsequently request arbitration or escalate the matter to the High Court if they believe the process is flawed.
Maguire suggests that Manchester City are preparing for a protracted and costly legal battle, which might eventually drive other Premier League clubs to consider a settlement. Maguire notes that legal contacts indicate City are already generating considerable disruption around the proceedings, signaling a long and expensive fight ahead.
Maguire questions whether this strategy aims to pressure the Premier League into consulting its member clubs regarding the escalating legal expenses, which could reach £25 million annually, and negotiating a settlement instead. He points out that smaller clubs might view these legal costs as a direct impact on their finances and question whether the battle aligns with their interests, potentially causing divisions among Premier League clubs if pressure primarily stems from a few teams that missed out on trophies or Champions League qualification.
