From fines to expulsion: 6 punishments Man City could face after being found guilty of 114 charges

Manchester City could face a range of sanctions after an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League charges brought against it.

The verdict, reported by The Athletic on September 25, 2026, follows a lengthy case over alleged financial-rule breaches dating back to 2009. The sanctions have not yet been decided, with City expected to appeal.

The Premier League’s disciplinary rules give an independent commission broad powers when dealing with rule breaches. Previous explanations of the league’s rules have listed penalties including fines, points deductions, suspension, cancellation of player registrations and expulsion, while also allowing a commission to make other orders it considers appropriate.

Here are six possible punishments and consequences City could face.

1. A substantial financial fine

One of the most straightforward sanctions would be a financial penalty.

Premier League rules allow an independent commission to impose fines, with previous explanations of the regulations noting that the commission has wide discretion over the scale of the punishment.

Given the number and nature of the charges reported against City, a fine could potentially be combined with sporting sanctions rather than imposed on its own.

The exact amount, however, would depend on the commission’s assessment of the breaches and any aggravating or mitigating factors.

2. A points deduction

The club could also be docked points in the Premier League.

A points deduction is one of the sanctions available to an independent commission and has been used in recent financial cases involving Premier League clubs.

The size of any deduction would have to be determined by the commission. There is no confirmed points figure attached to Friday’s reported verdict, and previous speculation about numbers should not be treated as an indication of the eventual punishment.

A significant deduction could have a direct effect on City’s league position.

3. Retrospective points deductions

The case covers alleged conduct from previous seasons, meaning the commission could potentially consider sporting consequences relating to the seasons in which the breaches occurred.

Retrospective points deductions would be particularly significant because they could alter historical league tables.

Such a sanction could therefore have consequences beyond City’s current campaign, although exactly how any retrospective penalty would be structured would depend on the commission’s final decision.

4. Suspension from the Premier League

The rules also allow for a club to be suspended from playing league matches.

This would go beyond a points deduction because City could be prevented from participating in Premier League fixtures for a period determined by the relevant sanction.

The Premier League’s published disciplinary framework has previously identified suspension as one of the possible sanctions available to an independent commission.

The length and terms of any suspension would be a matter for the commission.

5. Restrictions on player registrations

Another possible sanction is action against City’s ability to register players.

Premier League rules have allowed an independent commission to cancel or refuse the registration of players, meaning a punishment could affect the club’s transfer activity rather than simply its points total.

That could restrict City’s ability to register new players for a specified period and potentially have sporting consequences over subsequent transfer windows.

Such a measure could also be combined with other sanctions.

6. Expulsion from the Premier League

At the most severe end of the scale is expulsion from the Premier League.

The league’s rules have previously listed a recommendation to the board that a club be expelled from the competition among the available sanctions.

However, expulsion is not an automatic consequence of being found guilty, and the fact that it is legally possible does not mean it will be imposed.

A previous analysis of the case described expulsion as a theoretical possibility, while noting the exceptional nature of such a punishment.

What about City’s previous titles?

One of the biggest questions concerns the trophies City won during the period covered by the case.

Title stripping is not listed as a simple standalone punishment in the same way as a fine or points deduction.

However, a retrospective sporting sanction that changes points totals could potentially alter historical league standings and therefore affect the status of titles won during the relevant seasons.

That means the fate of previous titles would depend on the precise sanction eventually imposed, rather than following automatically from Friday’s reported guilty verdict.

City expected to appeal

Thed verdict is unlikely to mark the end of the dispute.

City are expected to challenge the decision and/or any sanction imposed. The club has maintained that the Premier League process remains ongoing and that significant elements are still to be completed, subject to confidentiality.