Man City FFP Verdict Could Be Another 12 Months Away, Says Delaney

The saga surrounding Manchester City's financial fair play charges shows no sign of drawing to a close soon, with fresh reporting suggesting the wait for a verdict could stretch another 12 months at minimum.

An independent commission concluded hearings into the 115 charges—or 129-130 when counting related matters—back in December 2024, with many expecting a ruling by February 2025. That deadline has come and gone, and according to The Independent's Miguel Delaney, sources with knowledge of the process indicate the ordeal is far from over.

Speaking on The Independent's YouTube channel, Delaney revealed that the three-judge panel has given no indication of when they might deliver their outcome. Worse still, should the verdict prove unfavourable to City, an appeal is almost certain to follow, potentially adding months or years to proceedings.

"Outside a small circle, no one has pretty much any idea when the three judges on the independent panel will even come to an outcome," Delaney explained. "But if it is an outcome unfavourable to City, there's almost certain to be an appeal."

The charges themselves relate to failures in financial reporting—including sponsorship valuations and player and manager pay disclosures—stretching across every season from 2009-10 through 2022-23. City also face accusations of non-cooperation with the Premier League's investigation.

The investigation began in 2018, with charges formally laid in February 2023 after years of legal wrangling. This hearing represents the third stage of what has become a nine-year process.

Back in February, Pep Guardiola suggested a verdict and sentence would arrive within a month, pointing to March 2025. That prediction proved optimistic. The City boss has previously pushed back against criticism of his club's spending, noting that over five years they rank last among the Premier League's top six in net expenditure, and that their financial model relies heavily on player sales.

Delaney indicated that Premier League officials are frustrated by the lack of movement, though they have little recourse to accelerate matters. The waiting game continues, with no end in sight.