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Football Insider

Definitely expected it to be out by now! - Man City 'in the dark' about 115 FFP charges verdict

Manchester City are being “left in the dark” when it comes to a final ruling in their long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga. With at least 115 charges hanging over the Premier League heavyweights, a verdict was “definitely expected by now” but has yet to be revealed, creating a very complicated situation.

Definitely expected it to be out by now! - Man City 'in the dark' about 115 FFP charges verdict

Manchester City are being “left in the dark” when it comes to a final ruling in their long-running Financial Fair Play (FFP) saga. With at least 115 charges hanging over the Premier League heavyweights, a verdict was “definitely expected by now”. No decision has been revealed, though, and that is keeping everybody guessing on what could be an explosive outcome.Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to City, has told Football Insider of the protracted saga - which appears to have no end in sight: “It looks to me as if they really have very little control of the process from the panel. They didn’t put in place the sorts of deadlines that maybe they should have done.“That’s left them very much in the dark as to when the decision is coming, and in that scenario, you have just got to carry on the business because what can you do? You can’t just sit around pausing everything. You have to make decisions, make progress and go about your business, so that’s what they’re doing.”Borson added on the challenges now being faced when it comes to delivering a verdict in the middle of a season, with City expected to contest any sanctions that they disagree with - dragging a distracting episode on even further: “I do think it’s going to be very complicated timing wise to be putting the decision out during the season.“Also, if you look at it from a timing perspective, you start to put it out in December, we all know that the world slows down mid-December. People go into Christmas mode. And again, this does not feel like something that can be thrown into that mix.“I mean, ordinarily you would definitely have expected it to be out by now. You definitely would have expected it to be before the end of the year. If it doesn’t come in this international break, then honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think there’s any clear understanding as to why it would not be out by now.”Premier League and European outfits are eager to know where they and City stand, so that long-term plans can be drawn up. Experts concede that the final outcome is likely to whip up another storm one way or another.An insider has previously told The i Paper: “Everyone just wants a verdict now and some certainty over what comes next. It’s gone very quiet and because it’s been going on for so long it’s almost been forgotten about but all hell could break loose when it lands.”Various potential punishments for City have been speculated on over the course of the last two-and-a-half years. They range from points deductions and fines to transfer embargoes and expulsion from the top-flight of English football.City have maintained their innocence throughout, with the Blues adamant that they have done nothing wrong. It has been a case of business as usual at the Etihad across several transfer windows and trophy bids.Pep Guardiola admitted back in the spring that he considered a verdict in the FFP case to be imminent, but those claims proved to be unfounded. A matter of months later and City are still waiting to be made aware of their fate.The most severe penalties are expected to be avoided, with there little chance of City being dumped into the EFL, but they could be stung with sanctions that make sustaining a title challenge in 2025-26 difficult - as they sit second in the Premier League table at present - or limit their ability to spend big again in upcoming recruitment markets.

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Manchester City Left in the Dark

Manchester City finds themselves in a state of uncertainty as the final ruling on their 115 FFP charges remains undisclosed. The anticipation for a decision has been prolonged, leaving the club and stakeholders guessing amidst the ongoing saga.

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Challenges and Speculations

Stefan Borson, a former financial adviser to City, highlights the lack of control over the process and the complications arising from the delayed verdict. With the timing of the decision extending into the current football season, the situation is becoming increasingly intricate.

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Anticipation and Potential Outcomes

As experts and insiders eagerly await the verdict, speculations regarding potential punishments, ranging from points deductions to transfer embargoes, continue to circulate. City's stance on their innocence remains firm, with the club proceeding with business as usual amid the uncertainty.

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Implications for the Future

The impending verdict is expected to have far-reaching implications for City and the football landscape at large. While severe penalties may be avoided, potential sanctions could impact the club's ability to sustain a title challenge and make significant transfers in the future.

Published on Nov 20, 2025