City’s long-running financial case dominated the news on Friday after David Ornstein reported that the club had been found guilty on virtually all of the charges brought against them by the Premier League.
It was the biggest development yet in a case stretching back years, although the full judgment hasn’t been published, no sanction has been announced, and City are expected to appeal.
Elsewhere, Marcos Llorente and Jude Bellingham featured in the transfer news, while questions were raised over reports linking City Football Group with a £78m move for Colombian club Millonarios.
Here are Friday’s Man City news and talking points.
Man City reportedly found guilty on virtually all charges
The major story arrived on Friday afternoon when Ornstein reported that the independent commission had reached its verdict in City’s long-running case.
According to The Athletic journalist, City have been found guilty on virtually all of the Premier League financial charges against them.
No sanction has yet been decided.
City responded by stressing that the process remains ongoing, with a club spokesperson saying: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.”
The club are expected to appeal.
Our full report on the Man City financial verdict has the details.
What punishment could City face?
Attention immediately turned to what the commission could do next.
There is no published formula linking a particular number of guilty findings to a set points deduction. The Premier League’s disciplinary framework gives independent commissions a range of powers, including fines and points deductions, while serious breaches can in extreme circumstances result in expulsion from the competition.
None of those outcomes has yet been announced in City’s case.
Our guide to the possible Man City sanctions looks at points deductions, relegation, expulsion and the expected appeal.
How did the financial case reach this point?
The Premier League case followed years of scrutiny surrounding City’s finances, including the Football Leaks disclosures and the club’s earlier battle with UEFA.
UEFA banned City from European competition for two seasons in 2020, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport subsequently overturned the punishment. CAS found that most of UEFA’s alleged breaches were either not established or time-barred, although City were fined €10m for failing to cooperate with UEFA’s investigation.
The Premier League later brought its own case, referring City to an independent commission in February 2023.
We’ve put together the full timeline of the Man City financial case from the earlier UEFA dispute through to Friday’s reported verdict.
What is confirmed – and what remains unknown?
The full commission judgment hasn’t yet been published, and no sanction has been announced.
That means the commission’s detailed findings and reasoning aren’t yet available for public examination, while claims about a specific points deduction or other punishment remain unconfirmed.
We’ve also separated what has been reported from what has been officially published, with the judgment, sanction and City’s expected appeal still to come.
City linked with Marcos Llorente
Away from the financial case, City were linked with Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente.
TEAMtalk reported that City and Chelsea are interested in the 31-year-old, with Liverpool also having explored a possible move. Llorente’s current Atletico contract expires next summer, although the Spanish club are reportedly confident of agreeing new terms.
There is no suggestion at this stage that City have approached the club or the player.
Read our Marcos Llorente transfer report.
Bellingham set for new Real Madrid deal
Jude Bellingham was another familiar name in the transfer conversation.
Reports in Spain suggest the England midfielder is expected to agree a new contract with Real Madrid and currently has no interest in leaving for City or another Premier League club. Bellingham’s existing Real contract runs until 2029.
City were interested in him before his move from Borussia Dortmund to Madrid in 2023, but there is no indication of a current approach.
Read the latest on Bellingham and the Man City links.
Questions over CFG Millonarios claim
Reports that City Football Group could make a £78m move for Colombian club Millonarios were also questioned on Friday.
Colombian journalist Guillermo Arango reported that Millonarios have not received an offer from CFG, while separate reports have linked another investment group with discussions over the club.
There is currently no confirmed CFG bid. Our report on the Millonarios takeover claims has the full background.
The financial case was inevitably Friday’s main story, with the sanction, publication of the full judgment and City’s expected appeal still to come.
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