Man City given possible date for long-awaited 115 charges verdict just before Pep Guardiola’s exit
As Pep Guardiola steps away from the dugout and welcomes Enzo Maresca in, the long-awaited decision on Manchester City’s 155 charges seems to be getting closer.
City was first accused of 115 Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches back in February 2023, at a time when other clubs were also being investigated and punished. These charges cover the years between 2009 and 2018—a period when Manchester City won three Premier League titles. Since then, these FFP allegations have cast a shadow over the club’s success and dominance in English football.
With Pep’s era wrapping up after this weekend’s final game at the Etihad Stadium—closing one of the most impressive chapters in football history—new reports say the club’s fate might be decided soon. The hearing, which grew to 130 charges (many related to not cooperating with the investigation), was held in December 2024, and the court has been considering the case ever since.
Football finance expert Stefan Borson says the verdict is coming up fast and expects a decision shortly after the 2026 Premier League season ends. “I think it will come as soon as the season finishes, within a reasonable amount of time,” he shared on the White and Jordan show on talkSPORT. “Probably June or early June, but that’s just a guess.”
This suggests the club might wait until Guardiola has left before any penalties are announced. Borson also mentioned that it’s very rare for legal decisions in Britain to take 18 months to conclude.
He joked that Lord Pannick, the top British barrister handling City’s case, doesn’t seem to be rushing. Instead, he was busy working on Southampton’s recent spygate scandal. “Lord Pannick, who will need to go through hundreds of pages about these charges, was focusing on Southampton last night,” said Borson. “So, he probably hasn’t received the draft decision yet, which means he’s still waiting to start advising City.”
For Manchester City, the outcome could be huge, and new manager Enzo Maresca might face a big challenge in his first season in charge.