(Credit: Imago)

James Murray

Wed 8 April 2026 10:05, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

Manchester City are expected to hear the long-awaited verdict in their 115 charges case as soon as this season finishes. 

That is according to former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that would take it up to around 18 months for a decision to be reached, which he believes is an “extraordinary” amount of time. 

Pep Guardiola’s side were dealt the charges by the Premier League in February 2023 for allegedly breaching the financial fair play (FFP) rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.

An independent commission hearing started in September 2024 and ended in December that same year, with the panel still considering its verdict.

Man City are expected to appeal if the decision goes against them after insisting they haven’t done anything wrong over the past three years. 

Why Man City’s 115 charges decision is expected soon

It has been revealed Man City are facing expulsion from the Premier League due to the seriousness of the charges. 

However, the initial decision is only understood to be around liability, with a further sanction hearing to follow if necessary.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson discussed when the decision could be delivered.

“It’s been very hard to assess where they are with this and why it’s not out yet,” said Borson.

“Everybody agrees it should have been out by now. At the end of the season, as soon as the season finishes, you would think it definitely will drop at that point because it will then be the best part of 18 months from the time of the hearing, which is an extraordinary amount of time for a liability hearing. 

“First of all, it’s a case of what are City found liable for, if anything. If they are, is there going to be an appeal before a sanction hearing? If there’s going to be a sanction hearing straight away, how quickly can that be organised?” 

Why Man City could be waiting months to learn punishment

Borson revealed there could be another long wait for a sanction hearing to come to a close if Man City are found guilty.

“There’s the period between the sanction hearing itself completing, and that hearing in itself might take a month,” said Borson.

“There’s then a period where we wait for the decision of the sanction hearing. We already know from the Chelsea FA one, where they had the hearing at the end of November, it’s already taken them four months, and that was only a sanction hearing.

“Even the sanction hearings can have very long durations, so it’s a mess in terms of when it’s coming and when we’ll get a final closure of this. It is really rolling on now.”