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Man City's unresolved 115-charge FFP case continues to threaten Premier League credibility, with experts warning of chaos if no verdict is delivered before the 2025/26 season kicks off.
The Premier League has been warned it risks a “complete disaster” over its handling of Manchester City’s 115 Financial Fair Play charges, with the lack of resolution creating uncertainty for clubs, fans, and sponsors.
City were first informed of the charges in February 2023, but more than a year later, there is still no official verdict. An independent hearing was reportedly completed by the end of 2024, but despite expectations of a spring 2025 ruling, no outcome has been announced. Now in the summer break, the delay is fueling frustration and concern.
Possible sanctions under discussion range from points deductions and transfer bans to a Premier League expulsion. City’s former financial advisor, Stefan Borson, believes the case must be settled before the 2025/26 season begins to avoid damaging the integrity of the competition.
"I think City must be quite close… I think there's been a lot of misinformation about that situation. If you have a 12-week trial, it takes a long time for the decision to come out. In the outside world, it could easily take 12 or 18 months in a High Court equivalent," Borson told talkSPORT.
He added that the timing of the ruling is critical: "We're now in a zone where, commercially, if there's any influence at all from the parties – the Premier League or the club – they would want to get that decision out during the close season."
Borson warned that the Premier League could soon find itself in a highly disruptive position if the verdict is not delivered during the ongoing break or the FIFA Club World Cup, which starts this week.
"We're getting very close to a situation where, if it doesn't come out in the next couple weeks and doesn't come out during the Club World Cup, you're getting very close to the start of the season. Nobody's going to want that. That is a complete disaster."
Pep Guardiola has already begun strengthening his squad in the early part of the transfer window, while City prepare to open another campaign for major trophies at the 2025 Club World Cup.