Oct 9, 2026 · 50 min
Manchester City verdict tests Premier League credibility
"The Biggest Scandal There's Ever Been": Dissecting the Disgrace of Manchester City
The case could determine whether English soccer can meaningfully police financial rules when ownership, investment, and geopolitics overlap.
- 1Manchester City was found guilty on 114 of 115 charges, though the club has appealed the commission’s findings.
- 2The alleged scheme involved sham contracts, inflated sponsorship revenue, indirect owner funding, and resistance to investigators.
- 3The case reaches beyond soccer, testing Abu Dhabi’s influence, Manchester’s redevelopment, and the Premier League’s authority.
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The episode’s clearest turning point is the commission’s finding that Manchester City was guilty on 114 of 115 charges, despite the club’s appeal.
The brief
Pablo Torre and The Athletic’s Adam Crafton examine the commission’s finding that Manchester City was guilty on 114 of 115 charges, while noting the club has appealed.
Crafton traces City’s transformation from an unstable Manchester club to an Abu Dhabi-backed powerhouse, raising questions about sportswashing, commercial identity, and sovereign wealth.
The evidence trail runs from Rui Pinto’s leaked documents to allegations of sham contracts, inflated sponsorship revenue, indirect funding, and non-cooperation with investigators.
The discussion widens into Manchester’s redevelopment and Abu Dhabi’s geopolitical reach, showing why a soccer case resonates beyond rival supporters and the league table.
Possible punishments include fines, points deductions, relegation, or owner disqualification, but every outcome must also preserve the Premier League’s credibility.