Every dated step in the Premier League's case against Manchester City, from the leaked documents of 2018 to the Commission's decision of 29 September 2026, with a source for each entry. Rows marked "date not set" are the steps still to come.
The Premier League case: where it stands
On 29 September 2026 the Premier League published the independent Commission's redacted Core Decision. The Commission found every charge proven except one sub-charge about cooperation with the investigation, Charge 4(B).
Any sanction. The Premier League's statement says the issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing with the independent Commission. No date has been announced, and no sanction has been decided.
Any appeal. Manchester City says the decision contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact, that the club is innocent, and that it will pursue the appeal avenues open to it. No appeal has been heard.
Friday 2 October 2026 is Manchester City's deadline to appeal the findings, according to the Premier League's statement.
Last verified 30 September 2026 against Premier League Statement: Manchester City FC, 29 September 2026, The independent Commission's redacted Core Decision (PDF), published 29 September 2026, Manchester City club statement, 29 September 2026. The full picture, with what the Commission found and what happens next →
The timeline
- November 2018Der Spiegel publishes a four-part investigation based on leaked Manchester City documents, the so-called Football Leaks.Source: ESPN explainer, updated 28 September 2026
- March 2019UEFA opens a formal investigation into the club; the Premier League announces its own investigation.Source: ESPN explainer, updated 28 September 2026
- February 2020UEFA finds serious breaches of its financial rules, bans the club from European competition for two seasons and fines it €30m.Source: ESPN explainer, updated 28 September 2026
- July 2020The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturns the European ban, finding the main allegations either not established or time-barred, and reduces the fine to €10m for failing to cooperate with UEFA.Source: ESPN explainer, updated 28 September 2026
- 6 February 2023The Premier League refers "a number of alleged breaches" of its rules by Manchester City to an independent Commission, listing the seasons and rule categories concerned.Source: Premier League statement, 6 February 2023
- 16 September to 6 December 2024The substantive hearing sits. The Commission's decision lists the sitting days: 16 to 19, 23 to 26 and 30 September; 1, 2, 4, 7 to 10, 14 to 17, 21 to 24 and 28 to 31 October; 1, 4, 5, 11 to 14 and 18 to 20 November; 3 to 6 December 2024.Source: the redacted Core Decision (PDF), published 29 September 2026
- 14 February 2025In a separate dispute, an arbitration tribunal rules on the Premier League's Associated Party Transaction rules; the League says new APT rules voted in November 2024 are already in force.Source: Premier League statement on the APT tribunal, 14 February 2025
- 9 September 2025Manchester City and the Premier League settle the APT dispute. The joint statement says the club "accepts that the current APT Rules are valid and binding". This is unrelated to the charges case.Source: Sky Sports on the APT settlement, 9 September 2025
- 21 November 2025Premier League clubs vote to replace the Profitability and Sustainability Rules with the Squad Cost Ratio and Sustainability and Systemic Resilience rules from 2026/27, and vote against the anchoring proposal.Source: Premier League statement on the new financial rules, 21 November 2025
- 25 September 2026The Athletic reports that the Commission has found 114 of the 115 charges proven. The Premier League declines to comment. The club says the process "remains ongoing" and is subject to confidentiality rules.Source: ESPN explainer, updated 28 September 2026
- 29 September 2026The Premier League publishes its statement and the Commission's redacted Core Decision: every Charge found proven except sub-charge 4(B); sanction to be addressed at a further hearing. Manchester City publishes a statement calling the decision an "opinion" that it says is "unsafe" and says it will appeal.Source: Premier League statement, 29 September 2026
- 2 October 2026The deadline, stated in the Premier League's statement, for Manchester City to appeal the findings.Source: Premier League statement, 29 September 2026
- Date not setA further hearing with the independent Commission on sanction. No date had been announced as of 30 September 2026.Source: Premier League statement, 29 September 2026
- Date not setPublication of the decision's appendices, which the Premier League says it is "committed to publishing as soon as it is able".Source: Premier League statement, 29 September 2026