Man City 115 charges latest: Arsenal impact, potential punishments and what happens next

Man City have reportedly been found guilty of the vast majority of the charges brought against them by the Premier League surrounding alleged breaches of financial rules

Arsenal could be significantly impacted by the bombshell guilty verdict handed to Manchester City after allegations of breaking Premier League rules. The club have been found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules by an independent panel.

The verdict comes more than three years after they were first charged in February 2023 and relates to alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018. City maintain their innocence and are expected to lodge an appeal against the verdict.

If they are unsuccessful with the appeal, then the club are expected to face a huge punishment, which could include fines, points deductions, transfer bans and even expulsion from the Premier League.

The decision could have a big impact on Arsenal, who lost the 2018 Carabao Cup final vs City. They finished behind City in the title race for two years in a row in 2023/24 and 2022/23 and while those seasons were not in question, the Gunners could argue that previous financial breaches had a significant impact on future seasons.

Whatever happens, the verdict will send shockwaves through football. With that in mind, here is the latest...

Manchester City’s chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak released a statement in a letter to fans on Saturday afternoon. In it, he said that the club remained confident of proving their innocence.

"I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul,” he wrote on the club’s official website.

“This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.

"Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.

"There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.

"I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true.

“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.

"We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium - moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.

"Thank you, as always, for your constant support."

Amid the swirling reports, City released a statement via a spokesperson on Friday. “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,” it said.

“As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023.

"The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence."

The 2023 statement that has been mentioned by both Al Mubarak and City read: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

"The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."

It’s not yet been revealed what sort of punishment City could be given, but it could range from a fine to expulsion from the Premier League. BBC Sport reports that the punishment decided by the independent panel will be released before any appeal process is completed.

Elsewhere, it has been suggested that the club could face ‘football oblivion’, with the Premier League and EFL working together.

TalkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs reports that the Premier League are pushing for a massive points deduction that will virtually relegate City, or having them automatically relegated.

Should that happen, then City would have to be accepted by the EFL. However, the organisation is said to be showing solidarity with the Premier League and could block City from playing in the Championship, League One or League Two.

That means that City’s next option would be to play outside of the EFL in the National League.

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City have been warned that appealing against the decision of the independent panel will not be fruitful, and they are now in ‘significant trouble’ by former Premier League club owner Simon Jordan.

Speaking on TalkSPORT , he said: "I'm unsurprised because I always thought Man City had a case to answer and there's a part of me, without wanting to be vindictive towards Man City, that thinks this is possibly a good thing.

"Because while Man City will put forward the argument that they were found guilty by UEFA and then cleared by CAS, that's a re-framing of the circumstances to some extent. Because the scope of what they were asked to contend with under the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) arbitration was slightly different to what UEFA found them guilty of in the first instance.

"So, it'll be interesting to see how Man City play the appeal out, but they are now in significant trouble, because I don't think that an appeal is going to be particularly fruitful for them, I don't think it's going to produce a different outcome. Because this is now reputational harm beyond all reputational harm."

Arsenal are one of the Premier League clubs who are prepared to take legal action against City, according to the Daily Mail. The reports said that at least four clubs could lodge compensation claims of up to £800 million.

It’s reported that, in 2024, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man United served formal notices reserving their right to take action.

The report also adds that the Premier League have been successful in proving all substantive claims.