Manchester City, the club that has dominated English football for more than a decade under Pep Guardiola, finds itself once again at the centre of the biggest storm the Premier League has ever seen. The story of the 115 charges is not new, it has been hanging over the club like a dark cloud since February 2023, but now, after more than 30 months of waiting, reports have finally revealed when the verdict might arrive, and the reaction across the football world has been nothing short of explosive. The Premier League has accused City of breaching its financial rules 115 times, an unbelievable number that shocked even neutral fans when it was first announced. From failing to provide accurate financial information, to hiding manager and player compensation, to breaking UEFA regulations, the accusations cover almost a decade of football dominance. The club has always strongly denied any wrongdoing, saying they have done everything by the book, but the weight of 115 charges has not gone away.
For months, hearings have taken place behind closed doors. A private trial that lasted six weeks at the end of last year finally gave both sides the chance to make their case. Manchester City’s lawyers argued with passion and precision that the club had nothing to hide, while the Premier League’s legal team pushed for answers, evidence, and accountability. The hearing concluded in December, but since then the silence has been deafening. Fans have been waiting, players have been waiting, rivals have been waiting. Nobody knew when the verdict would finally come down.
Now, a new report has finally given an answer. According to The Independent, Manchester City expect to hear the outcome in late September or early October 2025. That means the club will still go into the new Premier League season with this huge question mark hanging over them, knowing that at any moment a decision could land that might change everything. Pep Guardiola’s team kicked off their campaign against Wolves without knowing whether provisional punishments could still be imposed, and the uncertainty has created anxiety across the fanbase. Every single City fan knows this is not just about football, it is about the very future of their club.
Sports lawyer David Winnie, who is also a former professional footballer, spoke to the i Paper and gave his chilling assessment. He explained that the reason this has dragged on for so long is because of the sheer size and importance of the case. The panel must judge everything on the “balance of probabilities” and with so many charges to consider, the outcome is enormous. Winnie said if even some of the charges are proven, not even all, then Manchester City could face punishments of a scale never seen before in Premier League history. He even used the word “nuclear” to describe the most extreme option – relegation. The Premier League cannot directly demote City, but they can hand them such a heavy points deduction that it would be impossible for Guardiola’s men to survive in the top flight.
That single word, “nuclear,” has sent shivers down the spines of fans. Relegation is a punishment nobody thought could ever happen to Manchester City in this era, but now it is on the table. Winnie also warned that if some of the charges are proven, it could open the door for other Premier League clubs to launch their own legal actions against City or even against the league itself, adding another layer of chaos to an already explosive situation. It is the kind of scenario that could shake English football to its core, changing the landscape forever.
For City supporters, this is an emotional rollercoaster. On one side, they believe their club is innocent, that this is a witch-hunt driven by jealousy of their success. On the other side, they cannot ignore the possibility that punishments could land, and they fear the worst. Social media has been full of arguments, with rival fans already taunting City about possible relegation and stripped titles, while Blues have been fighting back with messages of loyalty and defiance.
The list of charges is long and detailed. Fifty-four alleged breaches relate to failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information between 2009/10 and 2017/18. Another 35 charges accuse the club of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 until February 2023. Fourteen are about failing to properly report player and manager compensation. Seven more involve breaching Premier League sustainability rules, while five involve UEFA’s financial fair play regulations. It is an astonishing web of accusations that cover almost every corner of football governance.
City’s defence has always been clear. They say they have provided all the information required, they have complied with every rule, and they are being unfairly targeted because of their success. Guardiola himself has spoken openly in the past, saying he would walk away if he ever discovered the club had lied to him, but he has always stood by City’s board and their version of events. To him, this is a case of proving innocence in the face of envy.
Yet the uncertainty has created tension everywhere. Rival clubs are watching closely, some hoping for a guilty verdict that would weaken the team that has dominated them for so long. Pundits and journalists debate daily whether City could actually be relegated or stripped of titles, something that would rewrite the history of the Premier League. Lawyers talk about endless appeals that could drag on for years, while fans just want clarity, closure, and truth.
The timing of the verdict makes things even worse for Guardiola’s men. Late September or early October is right in the middle of the season, with crucial Premier League and Champions League fixtures already being played. To drop a decision of this magnitude at that moment could throw City’s season into chaos. Players could be distracted, opponents could sense weakness, and the whole campaign could be overshadowed by something happening off the pitch.
For Pep Guardiola, the challenge is immense. He is trying to lead his squad into another season of battles, with dreams of defending their titles and chasing more trophies, while all around him the noise of the 115 charges gets louder. He is used to pressure, he has dealt with everything football can throw at a manager, but even for him this is a new level of uncertainty. No matter how many games City win, no matter how many goals Erling Haaland scores, the question of the 115 charges will not go away until the verdict arrives.
Inside the Etihad, the mood is one of determination mixed with nerves. The boardroom is filled with lawyers, strategists, and communications experts preparing for every possible outcome. The players are told to focus only on football, but even they cannot escape the constant headlines. City fans turn up every week chanting, singing, and waving their scarves, but in the back of their minds the fear lingers: what if the “nuclear” option becomes reality?
The entire football world will be watching when late September or early October comes. If City are cleared of all charges, it will be a moment of vindication, a chance for the club to say they were right all along. But if some charges are proven, even a fraction, the punishments could be devastating. Points deductions, massive fines, reputational damage, and years of appeals could follow. And if the worst-case scenario comes true, if relegation really happens, then the Premier League will never be the same again.
The countdown has begun. For now, City continue to fight on the pitch, while the biggest battle of all takes place off it. The fans wait. The rivals wait. The world waits. The day of judgement is finally coming, and when it does, the future of Manchester City, the legacy of Pep Guardiola, and the very balance of English football will be on the line.
