The hearing conclusion happened in December 2024, but we’ve still not had a final verdict 😬 Since then, Man City’s net transfer spend has been almost HALF A BILLION

Manchester City’s name has once again been dragged into the centre of English football debate, not because of what is happening on the pitch, but because of what is still happening behind closed doors. The long-running case surrounding the club’s alleged breaches of Premier League rules continues to hang over English football like a dark cloud, and the latest update suggests that this cloud may not disappear for a very long time. In fact, there is now growing belief that the final verdict in Manchester City’s 115 charges case may not arrive until well beyond 2027, leaving fans, rival clubs, and even Premier League officials exhausted and frustrated.

It has been almost three years since Manchester City were officially charged by the Premier League in February 2023, accused of breaching financial rules over a long period. The charges, widely reported as 115, actually relate to closer to 129 or even 130 alleged breaches, stretching back across many seasons. At the time, the announcement sent shockwaves through football. Many believed it would change English football forever. Others expected a swift process, with a clear outcome that would finally settle arguments about fairness, spending, and power in the modern game. Instead, what followed was silence, delay after delay, and an endless waiting game.

A private hearing eventually took place more than a year ago, yet even now, there is still no clear decision. According to recent reports, the three judges assigned to the case have not yet delivered a verdict. This information was quietly revealed by Manchester City themselves when they published their annual financial accounts in December. That small detail, buried in financial documents, spoke volumes. It confirmed what many already feared: this case is nowhere near finished.

Sources familiar with the legal process now believe the case could drag on for at least another year, and possibly much longer. Some even suggest that football may reach the end of 2027 before a final resolution is known. That would mean nearly five years of uncertainty hanging over one of the most successful clubs in modern football history. For supporters, it feels like living in limbo. For rival clubs, it feels like injustice delayed. For the Premier League, it is becoming an embarrassment.

Despite the noise surrounding the case, Manchester City have continued to act like a club untouched by fear. Their January transfer activity has only added fuel to the fire. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is now on the brink of joining City in a deal worth around £20 million. Earlier in the month, City completed the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a huge £62.5 million. These moves come on top of an already massive spending spree that stretches back to December 2024.

If Guehi’s move is finalised, Manchester City’s net transfer spend over just more than a year could approach an astonishing £500 million. This is happening while the club remains under investigation for alleged financial rule breaches. For many fans and rival supporters, it feels like a slap in the face. How can a club under such serious charges continue to spend so freely? Why has nothing been resolved? Why does the system feel so slow when the stakes are so high?

The frustration is not limited to fans. Inside the Premier League, irritation is growing. Several clubs are said to be tired of the endless legal process, with some feeling drained by the constant uncertainty. Legal fees alone are believed to be in the tens of millions of pounds for both sides. That is money that could have been invested in youth development, stadium improvements, or grassroots football. Instead, it is being burned in legal battles that seem to have no end

Senior figures within the Premier League are reportedly unhappy with how slowly the process is moving. The league wanted this case concluded long ago. Every delay weakens trust in the system and invites criticism. There is also the fear that even when a verdict finally arrives, the story will not end there. Manchester City have made it clear they will strongly appeal any outcome that goes against them. They continue to insist on their innocence and believe the Premier League’s case is flawed.

Pep Guardiola, the face of Manchester City’s success, has grown visibly tired of being asked about the case. When questioned earlier this month about the delay, his response was blunt and honest. He admitted he had no idea why the process was taking so long and suggested that journalists might know more than him. It was not the answer of a man hiding something. It was the answer of a manager who feels trapped in a situation he cannot control.

Reports suggest that the first judgment, whenever it arrives, will focus only on liability. In simple terms, it will decide whether Manchester City are guilty or not. Punishment, if any, would come later. According to Premier League rules, City would have only narrow grounds to appeal the initial verdict, unless there are serious flaws in how the league has handled the case. Even so, any appeal could add another year or more to the process.

While the legal battle continues, Manchester City’s football operations show no sign of slowing down. In the summer window, they spent heavily again, bringing in Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli for a combined fee of around £152 million. These are not panic buys. They are smart, calculated moves designed to keep City at the top of English and European football.

This relentless spending raises an uncomfortable question. If Manchester City truly believed they faced the most severe punishments, would they be investing so aggressively? Would they be handing out massive contracts and planning for the future with such confidence? For many observers, City’s behaviour suggests they do not expect the worst-case scenario to happen.

The list of possible sanctions, if City are found guilty, is serious. It includes points deductions, heavy fines, and even expulsion from the Premier League. Yet the idea of a club of City’s size being thrown out of the top flight feels almost impossible to imagine. English football has never dealt with a case of this scale before, and there is fear that the system is not equipped to deliver true justice.

One of the strongest signals that City are planning long-term stability came in January 2025, when Erling Haaland signed one of the most lucrative contracts in sporting history. His deal runs until 2034, tying one of the world’s best players to the club for nearly a decade. Such a move sends a clear message. Manchester City see themselves as secure, powerful, and untouchable. They are not behaving like a club expecting chaos.

This only deepens the frustration felt across the league. Rival fans feel the integrity of competition has been damaged. Smaller clubs feel rules apply differently depending on size and influence. Neutral observers feel tired of endless headlines without answers. Everyone wants closure, but closure feels further away than ever.

Even within Manchester City’s own fanbase, the uncertainty is draining. Supporters want to enjoy success without fear that it could all be taken away later. Every trophy, every win, every celebration comes with an unspoken question mark. Will it still count in the future? Will history look back differently on this era?

The delay has also affected how players and managers across the league talk about City. Some avoid the subject entirely. Others speak carefully, aware that one wrong comment could cause controversy. It has created an awkward atmosphere where one of the league’s biggest stories is also its most sensitive.

The Premier League now finds itself in a difficult position. On one hand, it must prove that rules matter and that no club is above them. On the other hand, it must ensure that the process is fair, legal, and strong enough to withstand appeals. Rushing the decision could lead to mistakes. Taking too long damages credibility. It is a lose-lose situation.

As months turn into years, the case has become less about Manchester City alone and more about the future of football governance. If this process ends without meaningful consequences, it could set a dangerous precedent. If it ends with severe punishment after years of delay, it could lead to chaos and legal warfare on an unprecedented scale.

For now, Manchester City continue to win matches, sign players, and operate as normal. Pep Guardiola continues to build his squad. New stars arrive. Old stars sign new deals. The Etihad Stadium remains a place of ambition and confidence. Outside the club, however, the debate grows louder.

The silence from the judges is the loudest noise of all. Every week without a verdict adds another layer of suspicion, frustration, and fatigue. English football waits, argues, speculates, and grows tired. Yet there is no escape from the reality that this case will shape the future, whenever it finally ends.

Until then, Manchester City’s 115 charges remain an open wound in the Premier League. A story without an ending. A question without an answer. And a reminder that in modern football, power, money, and justice do not always move at the same spe