Manchester City face fresh financial scrutiny over post-2018 conduct

Manchester City could face a new investigation into possible financial rule breaches in the seasons after 2018, amid questions from Premier League clubs about whether alleged practices identified in an earlier case continued.

The concerns were reported by the British newspaper The Independent, which said officials are examining whether the impact of the breaches for which City were found liable extended beyond the period covered by the original investigation.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 breaches of financial rules relating to the period from 2009 to 2018. The club denies wrongdoing and is continuing its appeal against the findings.

Why could City face another investigation?

The commission concluded that the value of Manchester City’s sponsorship agreements had been inflated through undisclosed funding provided by the club’s owners.

That finding has prompted questions among English football officials over whether the same arrangements stopped after 2018. Those concerns have been reinforced by the fact that City’s commercial revenues have remained at a high level.

Some club executives believe the continuation of the same relationships between Manchester City and sponsors connected to Abu Dhabi could lead to new allegations if it were established that undisclosed funding had continued, or that sponsorship agreements had not been assessed according to their genuine market value.

Guardiola’s success under examination

The issue has taken on added significance because of Manchester City’s achievements since 2018 under manager Pep Guardiola.

The club have won six Premier League titles in seven seasons, including four in a row. They have also completed a domestic treble and then secured the historic treble in the 2022-23 season, which included their first Champions League triumph.

Some Premier League officials believe the period after 2018 has not been examined closely enough. However, launching a new case could require further evidence, such as leaked emails, which played a role in triggering the original investigation.

Manchester City are scheduled to face Leipzig in the Champions League on 04 November 2026, before meeting Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on 07 November 2026.

Could a fresh case become a negotiating tool?

There are concerns among some officials that a second investigation could extend the dispute for several more years. Others would prefer to wait for the outcome of City’s appeal and the penalties expected to be announced during November.

According to the report, some officials believe the prospect of a new investigation could be used as leverage in negotiations over the sanctions. The Premier League could potentially avoid opening another case if Manchester City agreed to accept punishment in the existing one.

The situation is also more sensitive because the club could be put up for sale, either following a decision by the independent football regulator or voluntarily. A new investigation could make Manchester City less attractive to potential buyers because of the possibility of further sanctions.

For now, Manchester City continue to maintain their innocence while English football awaits the appeal decision and the final penalties.