The football world remains gripped by the saga of Manchester City’s 115 alleged financial fair play (FFP) breaches, a case dubbed the “trial of the century” that continues to cast a shadow over the Premier League champions’ glittering success. On July 10, 2025, John Textor, the outgoing co-owner of Crystal Palace, stirred the pot with a candid admission about the charges during a talkSPORT interview, revealing a perspective that underscores both his personal connection to City and the complexity of the ongoing legal battle. As the independent commission’s verdict looms, the case—spanning allegations from 2009 to 2018—promises seismic consequences for English football, with City steadfastly denying wrongdoing.
The Premier League leveled the charges against Manchester City in February 2023, accusing the club of 130 breaches (initially reported as 115 due to a counting error) of financial regulations over nine seasons. These include failing to provide accurate financial information, particularly around sponsorship revenue, not disclosing full details of manager Roberto Mancini’s compensation from 2009 to 2013, and breaching UEFA’s FFP rules. The allegations, rooted in the 2018 Football Leaks exposé, suggest City inflated sponsorship deals with UAE-linked companies, such as Etihad Airways, and used off-book payments to mask spending, enabling them to build a squad that won Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014. City have consistently denied the charges, asserting they possess a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to prove their innocence. The 12-week hearing, held at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre from September to December 2024, concluded with no verdict yet, though manager Pep Guardiola predicted in February 2025 that a decision could arrive within a month.
Textor, a lifelong City fan whose children grew up wearing the club’s kit, offered a surprising take when pressed by talkSPORT host Jim White about the charges’ perception among football’s elite. “I hate to disappoint you, but I haven’t even thought of it,” Textor admitted. “I’ve never read the charges, I don’t think of the charges.” His detachment stems from his nostalgia for the “old City” of the 1990s, when players like Ian Bishop, whom Textor later brought to his academy, defined the club before its 2008 Abu Dhabi takeover. “I’m a little disappointed that their success has come largely off of money because I was a fan before they had money,” he added, reflecting on how City’s financial might has overshadowed their gritty past. Textor’s comments reveal a disconnect among some Premier League stakeholders, who remain divided on the case’s implications.
The stakes are monumental. If found guilty, City could face severe penalties, from hefty fines to points deductions, title stripping, or even expulsion from the Premier League—a decision that could require a vote from 15 of the 20 clubs. Other clubs, including Liverpool and Arsenal, have reserved the right to seek compensation for lost revenue from missing out on titles or European competitions, potentially costing City hundreds of millions. The case’s complexity, involving thousands of documents and allegations of fraud, has delayed the verdict, with experts now suggesting a resolution may not come until summer 2025, just before the 2025/26 season begins on August 16. “It would make a lot of sense,” said Stefan Borson, a former City financial adviser, about a spring verdict, though he warned that prolonged delays could heighten “concerns” for the club.
City’s on-field dominance—six of the last seven Premier League titles, a 2023 Treble, and a fourth consecutive championship in 2024—has been marred by the charges’ shadow. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has expressed frustration at how the club’s achievements are framed, sympathizing with fans tired of the narrative. Meanwhile, City’s legal team, led by Lord Pannick KC, has fought aggressively, even challenging the Premier League’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules in a separate 2024 lawsuit, which they won, arguing the rules were discriminatory. The 115 charges case, however, hinges on historical compliance, with allegations of “secret contracts” and non-cooperation with investigations from 2018 to 2023.
Guardiola, who signed a two-year contract extension in 2024, has urged patience, saying, “I am happy it starts soon and hopefully it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us.” He’s dismissed premature judgments, insisting, “Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven.” Star striker Erling Haaland, who inked a nine-and-a-half-year deal in 2025, echoed this confidence, stating he “hasn’t thought about” the charges when committing his future. City’s recent £250 million transfer splurge, including signings like Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri, signals business as usual, though critics like Gary Neville have called the unresolved case “an absolute stain to the game.” As the football world awaits the verdict, Textor’s indifference highlights the polarized views surrounding City’s legacy and the Premier League’s quest for financial transparency.
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