How Man City Women could be affected by Premier League punishment

The possible consequences of City‘s financial case have largely been discussed in relation to the men’s team.

But what could an eventual punishment mean for the reigning Women’s Super League champions?

A new report from The Athletic has examined that question, with City Women operating as a separate legal entity but remaining part of the same wider City Football Group structure.

Any Premier League sporting punishment would not directly apply to the women’s team, but there could still be wider financial consequences.

Would Man City Women face sporting sanctions?

City Women were not implicated in the independent commission’s investigation and are not subject to the Premier League rules at the centre of the case. They compete in the WSL, which is run by WSL Football independently of the Premier League. The Athletic reports there is no indication of a WSL Football investigation into financial wrongdoing by City Women.

That means a Premier League sporting sanction against the men’s club would not directly apply to the women’s team. The charges also cover a period when the WSL was operated by the Football Association and did not have the financial regulations introduced by WSL Football this season.

Could Man City Women still be affected?

The greater uncertainty concerns the possible indirect consequences. City Women share the same holding company as the men’s operation and are not financially self-sustaining. The financial link is significant. City Women’s latest accounts state that the company will continue to receive equity funding from its parent company until it becomes self-sustaining.

The Athletic reports that the women’s side generated £10.6m in revenue in 2024-25, including £6.9m from commercial deals, with some of that income linked to arrangements across City Football Group. A significant financial sanction against City could therefore have wider implications for spending across the organisation, although there is currently no indication of what those might be.

The report also raises questions over whether the uncertainty could eventually affect recruitment, sponsorship and the reputation of the women’s team. City Women manager Andree Jeglertz has described the situation as “business as usual”.

“We haven’t changed anything, we have just kept on doing everything we normally do,” he said last month when questioned about the case.

Jeglertz declined to comment when asked whether he had received assurances that the women’s operation would be unaffected. City have appealed against the commission’s findings and continue to contest the case. No sporting sanction has yet been imposed.

City Women therefore face no Premier League punishment of their own. Any impact would depend on the outcome of the wider process and what financial or other consequences eventually follow for the club.

For more Man City news, please visit our news page.