The Premier League has been warned that “all hell could break loose” once the verdict in Manchester City’s long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga is finally delivered. Heavyweights from the Etihad Stadium are still waiting on an official ruling there, following an independent hearing, meaning that various potential punishments for the Blues continue to be speculated on.
Potential punishments: Mooted sanctions for Man City
City, after a two-year investigation, were made aware of the case being brought against them in February 2023. There were 115 entries on their charge list at that point, which has since been increased to around 130. If they were to be found guilty on several counts, then sanctions would be imposed.
It has been suggested that City could be stung with points deductions, transfer embargoes, or expulsion from the English top-flight. A hefty fine is expected, with it also likely that appeals will be lodged against any decisions that the Blues disagree with. That could lead to the case dragging on even further.
AdvertisementGetty Images When will a verdict be delivered in Man City's FFP case?
According to , “experts are braced for a decision to drop in mid-November – possibly in a week that coincides with the next international break”. That is said to be an opinion shared by many Premier League officials “who believe that the uncertainty will surely not extend into 2026”.
While everybody is eager to know where they stand, a distracting episode for all concerned is still far from being finished. The fallout from any final judgement is expected to ripple throughout English football.
A source has told The i Paper: “Everyone just wants a verdict now and some certainty over what comes next.” They added, with more voting on the future of FFP set to take place in November: “It’s gone very quiet and because it’s been going on for so long it’s almost been forgotten about but all hell could break loose when it lands.”
Why has there been a delay in Man City's FFP saga?
Former City advisor and football finance expert Stefan Borson has stated that a decision should be known by the end of the year. Pep Guardiola had, however, claimed back in February that a ruling would be made “in one month”. That was not the case, with there still no end in sight.
Borson has said: “There’s no real excuse for a further delay. Even if the panel were busy on other matters, and they would have been, then I think it would be really quite extraordinary that there’s been no timetable set with them and no arrangement set with them in terms of the payment of their time over these last ten months to produce the decision by a given date. I think on any basis 10 months is enough to produce even a very, very detailed 400 or 500-page decision on this case, and I think it is imminent.”
GettyBusiness as usual: Man City have maintained their innocence
That may be wishful thinking, with Richard Masters and the Premier League having continued to play cards close to their chest. They are aware that the eyes of the world are watching and that no stone can be left unturned.
Rob Wilson, programme director at the University Campus of Football Business, has told The i Paper of there still being several issues to address in a complicated case: “It’s big and it’s fraught with political challenges as well because Manchester City are a big component of the Premier League so it will damage their brand.
“In reality it damages their brand whatever happens. If City are cleared they’ll be accused of not being able to police financial fair play, if they are guilty it is a club that has been a huge part of the Premier League story for the last few years. Whatever happens it feels like a lose-lose for the Premier League.”
City have always maintained their innocence, with it being a case of ‘business as usual’ at the Etihad. They have continued to invest heavily in the transfer market and hope to be back in contention for Premier League and Champions League honours in the 2025-26 campaign.