Manchester City have been told when they may be punished should their appeal against findings that they breached financial rules fail

Manchester City will learn of any sanctions next year if their appeal against breaches of financial rules fails. Their appeal will reportedly be heard next month.

In September, an independent commission found City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges laid against the club in 2023, following an investigation into the club's conduct. They were found guilty of breaching financial rules between 2009 and 2018 and obstructing the Premier League's investigation until 2023.

The commission ruled that City used "sham" sponsorship deals to disguise over £830million of owner Sheikh Mansour's own money as legitimate revenue and hid nearly £17m in off-the-books payments to staff and players.

City immediately and vehemently denied these findings and dubbed them "unsafe" and on October 1 lodged an appeal. Under Premier League rules, a separate three-member Appeal Board must hear the case within 12 weeks. It is now being suggested that the multi-day hearing will take place in mid-December and any sanctions will be handed down in 2027.

The Financial Times claims that the appeal hearing set to go ahead next month could take several days. The findings from that appeal and whether City's guilty verdict will be upheld are expected to be handed down in the New Year.

Make sure you never miss the latest Manchester City news and opinion by making Manchester Evening News one of your Google preferred sources.

A decision on sanctions will then be made if the appeal proves unsuccessful. The Premier League rulebook gives the independent commission the power to impose whatever sanction is deemed appropriate, from points deductions to outright expulsion from the league.

Expulsion can only be recommended by the commission, however, and a vote would then be put to member clubs. A total of 15 clubs would have to back the move for it to pass.

At the moment, it is not yet clear when those sanctions, if they are handed down and the appeal fails, will come into effect, whether that be this Premier League season or the next.

City are expected to argue at next month's hearing that the disputed sponsorship funding came from the Abu Dhabi government as a sovereign body rather than from a private company.

When lodging their appeal, City stated the commission's ruling contained "clear material errors of law, principle and fact." It is not a re-trial and City must prove legal or procedural errors.

Whilst the report claims the outcome of the appeal and any potential punishment may be decided in 2027, the final legal resolution may not arrive until the following year or even 2029.

City have the right to lodge a separate appeal against whatever sanctions they might face.