Manchester City’s long-running Premier League financial case took a major turn on 25 September 2026 when an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against it.
The charges mostly relate to financial and regulatory breaches over a period of several years from 2009 to 2018 and allegations of the club’s cooperation with the investigation by the Premier League. The case was formally opened in February 2023 after a lengthy investigation.
But the guilty verdict does not mean Manchester City have lost any Premier League titles since the report. No final punishment had been announced at the time the reports came out and the club is expected to appeal.
The fans bring up previous Premier League titles.
The latest development quickly triggered reactions from football supporters on social media.
Some rival fans started to joke about Manchester City’s previous Premier League successes and whether titles won during the period covered by the charges should remain on the club’s record.
The discussion has been particularly focused on seasons in which City finished with a small margin over another big club.
For example, Manchester United were level on points with City in 2011-12 and City won the title on goal difference. Liverpool were second behind City in 2013-14 and United were second in 2017-18. Some publications have discussed how league tables might look if City's titles were eventually removed.
Liverpool and Manchester United fans join the discussion.
Liverpool supporters have been particularly vocal about the 2013-14 season. Social media posts celebrated the possibility of Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers being retrospectively associated with a Premier League title.
Manchester United supporters have also discussed the possibility of getting titles from 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons if retrospective changes were eventually ordered.
Arsenal fans are also involved in the debate, though the charges in question also cover seasons much earlier than during the recent title battles with City. The Standard pointed out that some of the Arsenal fans were demanding retrospective recognition, but also added why those claims did not represent the seasons in question.
No decision yet on stripping titles.
Though the online celebration and trolling can come with a lot of fan reactions rather than a Premier League decision.
Some of these sanctions could also be monetary penalties, points deductions, or other disciplinary measures. Honours have also been discussed on the list of possible sanctions, but no final announcement has been made to date that any Manchester City title will be stripped away from Manchester City or given to another club.
Manchester City have maintained they are innocent and will appeal the verdict. The club has also said the Premier League process continues.
