La Liga Chief Warns Premier League Credibility is at Risk Over Delayed City Verdict

2026-02-27 companies

London, Friday, 27 February 2026.
Amid accusations that delays suggest “impunity,” experts now predict a potential 60-point deduction for Manchester City, a verdict that could rewrite a decade of Premier League history.

A Crisis of Confidence in Governance

The integrity of the Premier League is facing severe scrutiny as the wait for a verdict on Manchester City’s alleged financial breaches enters its fourth year. Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London on February 26, 2026, La Liga President Javier Tebas characterized the situation as damaging to the league’s reputation, suggesting that the delay creates an atmosphere of “impunity” for the reigning champions [2][5][8]. The charges, originally announced in February 2023, encompass alleged violations of financial regulations spanning nine seasons from 2009 to 2018 [3][4]. Despite hearings concluding in December 2024, the independent commission has yet to issue a decision, leaving the football world in a state of prolonged uncertainty [1][2].

The Sound of Silence from League Officials

While external pressure mounts, the Premier League leadership remains tight-lipped. Chief Executive Richard Masters, also present at the summit, steadfastly refused to comment on the timeline, stating, “Having spent three years not commenting, I’m not going to start now” [2][8]. This silence persists despite previous expectations of a swifter resolution; Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had stated in February 2025 that he expected a verdict within one month, a deadline that has long since passed [4]. Legal experts are increasingly critical of the timeline. Stefan Borson, head of sport at McCarthy Denning, noted that similar commercial cases have reached decisions in far less time than the 15 months observed in this instance, emphasizing an “urgent need for progress” [1].

Potential Sanctions: Rewriting History

The stakes for Manchester City—and the history of English football—could not be higher. Finance expert Kieran Maguire has predicted that if the club is found guilty of serious allegations, a deduction of 60 points would be a “logical” punishment [3]. Such a penalty would likely eliminate City from competitive contention for a season, but the retrospective implications are even more profound. If the commission opts to strip titles won during the period of alleged non-compliance, Manchester United could retrospectively be awarded the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League titles [7]. This would raise Manchester United’s total league titles to 22, surpassing Liverpool [7]. Conversely, Manchester City maintains they possess a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” supporting their innocence [3].

Economic Ramifications and Future Rules

Beyond the immediate charges, Tebas also directed criticism toward the Premier League’s evolving financial framework. Clubs have voted to replace the Profitability and Sustainability Rules with a new system based on Squad Cost Ratios, set to be implemented next season [5]. Under these new regulations, clubs may spend up to 85% of their revenue on wages and transfers, with a buffer allowing them to reach 115% provided they balance their books within three years [5]. Tebas warned that this structure, combined with English football’s superior revenue generation, will drive massive inflation in the transfer market, arguing that without strict expense controls, “no fair play rules are of any use at all” [5].

Sources

Corporate governance Sports finance