The ruling marks the culmination of a multi-year legal and regulatory process. In February 2025, manager Pep Guardiola, who left the club at the end of that season, indicated the verdict was expected within a month. Sources told the BBC on September 25, 2026, that a verdict had been reached, finding the club guilty of the majority of the allegations. The Premier League subsequently released the formal findings via the independent commission.
Simultaneously, Rui Pinto, the founder of the website Football Leaks whose leaked documents triggered the initial investigation, is reportedly in discussions with United Kingdom authorities. According to reports in British media, Pinto’s lawyers have been contacted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Pinto is allegedly willing to assist UK authorities in uncovering financial and sporting crime in exchange for police protection. Pinto appeared to confirm these reports by reposting related articles on social media. His lawyer, William Bourdon, stated to The Guardian, “I can confirm that the process is under way.”
The SFO declined to comment on whether Pinto is in talks, citing established practices to avoid prejudice to law enforcement activity. “We can neither confirm nor deny any investigation into this matter,” the SFO said in an emailed statement. Pinto’s legal team has emphasized the urgency of his situation, noting that he previously feared for his life after Portugal’s witness protection program informed him his protection would end on October 10. Pinto had launched a crowdfunding campaign to establish an anonymous new life, citing “multiple death threats” and a “serious risk of an assassination attempt.” However, the Portuguese Ministry of Justice stated it would extend his protection.
The legal proceedings against Manchester City have a complex history. In November 2019, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) deemed City’s appeal inadmissible regarding earlier European Union of Football Associations (UEFA) charges. In February 2020, UEFA announced a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine, which was overturned by CAS in July 2020. The current Premier League investigation was made public in April 2021 after the club lost a jurisdiction ruling that had previously allowed media reporting. In February 2022, the German magazine Der Spiegel published claims that the Premier League had been investigating the club for three years. Formal charges were brought in February 2023.
Football integrity officials have stated that the outcome of the Man City case must leave “no room for doubt.” The case has intensified scrutiny on the financial structures of English football, where a significant commercial revenue gap exists between the wealthiest clubs and the rest of the league. While the independent regulator has recognized the social importance of the game as a matter of law, the current system is described as creating stress that forces high-risk capital investment. The immediate legal consequence of the guilty verdict will determine the final penalties and potential impacts on the club’s standing and past titles, though specific sanctions were not detailed in the initial confirmation.
