Manchester CityManchester City's Premier League Financial Fair Play (FFP) case could be approaching a pivotal moment. Former club advisor Stefan Borson said on talkSPORT that the independent arbitration panel's final ruling is "most likely" to be announced this June — roughly 18 months after multi-week hearings wrapped up at the end of 2024.
A Lengthy Arbitration After Four Years of Investigation
In early 2022, after a four-year investigation, the Premier League brought more than 100 charges against Manchester City over alleged breaches of financial fair play rules between 2009 and 2018, and referred the case to an independent commission. Since then, Pep Guardiola's side has continued to operate as normal in the transfer market, while the club has consistently denied any wrongdoing. If the ruling goes against them, Manchester City could face heavy fines, a transfer ban, points deductions, or even expulsion from the Premier League — but in recent years outside observers have increasingly believed the Citizens may emerge unscathed.
"Most Likely in June": Borson's Timeline
Borson said: "I think the result is coming very soon, but we've said that before, haven't we?" He added that there is a widespread sense the ruling will arrive "at the end of the season," with "June most likely — that's the feeling everyone has."
The former Manchester City advisor said bluntly that 18 months to draft a private arbitration ruling "simply cannot be justified," and that "it has reached the point of absurdity." He revealed that recent signals suggest the document drafting stage is "nearing its conclusion."
End-of-Season Run-In and Case Timeline
From the schedule, the 2025 Premier League season is entering its closing stages. Site data shows Manchester City’s recent results include a 1-2 defeat in Matchday 38, a 1-1 draw in Matchday 37, 3-0 wins in Matchdays 36 and 31, a 3-3 draw in Matchday 35, and a 1-0 away win in Matchday 34. Their performances at the Etihad Stadium (capacity 55,097) run parallel to the unresolved financial case off the pitch—June marks both the season’s closing window and aligns with the timing Boisson indicated for the ruling’s release.
Divided opinion: From fatigue to “they could walk away clean”
The case has dragged on for so long that club legends such as Ian Wright have long voiced their weariness. Gary Neville recently told Wright in conversation that Manchester City “could be found not guilty on every charge” and “they might get off entirely”—a claim that irked Wright.
Whether Neville’s assessment proves accurate or not, if the June window passes without a ruling, the trust gap between the Premier League and Manchester City will only deepen. For the Premier League, this is not merely a compliance review but a matter of credibility for the league’s financial regulatory framework; for Manchester City, the outcome will directly shape the historical narrative of their recent title-winning era—whether as “a dynasty winning as usual” or “winners awaiting reckoning.”
What to watch next
If June still brings no official announcement, the case will formally enter its fifth year, with the transfer window and preseason preparations continuing under a cloud of uncertainty. What fans and rival clubs need to watch most closely are the specific date of the ruling, the level of any sanctions, and whether Manchester City appeal. Until then, every point on the pitch still counts—the delayed off-field “verdict” remains this season’s true closing variable.
