Premier League Daily Report - 2026-09-25: Manchester City found guilty of 114 Premier League breaches

Manchester City were found guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League financial charges on Friday, according to multiple reports. The charges concerned alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018, including financial reporting, profit and sustainability rules, and failures to co-operate with the league’s investigation. City were charged in 2023 after a lengthy inquiry, while an independent hearing lasted several weeks. The club has consistently denied wrongdoing. The findings have not been publicly released, but reports said the independent panel rejected all but one of the allegations, creating the most serious legal threat yet to the legacy of City’s trophy-laden era.

No sanction has been decided, and City are expected to appeal the verdict. Potential penalties reportedly range from a reprimand or fine to a points deduction, the removal of titles, relegation or expulsion from the Premier League, although the eventual punishment will depend on the commission’s decision and any appeal process. The ruling places the league’s financial regulations under intense scrutiny because of the scale and duration of the alleged breaches. It also leaves City facing prolonged uncertainty over their competitive future, with the consequences potentially extending beyond the club to the credibility of English football’s financial controls.

The Premier League joined LaLiga, the Bundesliga and Serie A in demanding fundamental FIFA governance reform on Friday. In a joint statement, the four leagues called for affected stakeholders, including leagues, clubs and players, to have a meaningful role in decision-making, while also seeking evidence-based processes and a clearer separation between FIFA’s regulatory and commercial functions. The intervention followed the collapse of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which had involved plans to raise investment through FIFA’s commercial operations. The leagues argued that the issues exposed by that episode required structural change rather than limited procedural adjustments.

The group also called for stronger checks and balances and clearer constitutional boundaries within FIFA. According to City AM, the leagues want whoever wins next year’s presidential election to convene an independently chaired governance convention within their first 100 days in office. The Premier League’s participation gives the campaign considerable weight because of its financial influence and global profile. It also reflects a continuing dispute between domestic competitions and FIFA over unilateral decision-making, the international calendar and the expansion of global tournaments. The statement increased pressure on Gianni Infantino without directly calling for him to resign.

Brentford defender Kim Ji-soo scored and assisted as South Korea’s under-23 side beat Vietnam 4-0 in the Asian Games quarter-finals on Friday. The match was played at Mizuhō Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, with South Korea advancing to the last four as they continued their pursuit of a fourth consecutive gold medal. Kim started in the centre of South Korea’s back four under head coach Lee Min-sung, alongside Choi Seok-hyun. His attacking contribution stood out in a comprehensive victory that also featured Lee Young-jun, Bae Jun-ho and Lee Hyun-joo in the starting line-up.

The result kept South Korea’s title defence on course and highlighted the contribution of a player attached to a Premier League club. Kim’s display was described as influential in both attack and defence, underlining his importance to a side seeking to extend its run of Asian Games success after triumphs in 2014, 2018 and 2022. South Korea’s next fixture will be the semi-final, with the squad now two victories from another gold medal. For Brentford, Kim’s involvement provided a prominent international platform during the Premier League’s early-season break.