|

Man City compensation claims: Players, 4 clubs add huge risk

Dustin Judge
Exterior of the Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City, the club facing Man City compensation claims

Premier League players and their agents are weighing Man City compensation claims if Manchester City fails to overturn the guilty verdict in its financial rules case, Sky Sports News reported Thursday, Oct. 1. Several rival clubs have already hired lawyers to study possible litigation against the club.

Any lawsuits depend on City’s appeal. The club denies wrongdoing and has until Friday, Oct. 2, to lodge it.

Who could bring Man City compensation claims

Players have reached out to lawyers about potential claims of their own, according to Sky Sports. The argument would be that City’s breaches cost them bonuses tied to titles, trophies or European qualification that their clubs missed out on.

Players may not be the only ones. A legal expert told Sky Sports News that former managers could also have grounds to sue over lost earnings.

Rival clubs are further along in exploring Man City compensation claims. Several have instructed lawyers to assess litigation if the verdict stands, Sky Sports reported. Yahoo Sports reported that only four clubs, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, filed paperwork before the statute of limitations expired, preserving their right to seek compensation.

The Premier League trophy on display in Manchester; lost titles and bonuses are at the heart of Man City compensation claims
The Premier League trophy at the National Football Museum in Manchester. Photo: Ank Kumar / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

What the commission found

An independent commission found City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges it faced. The Premier League said the panel found the club arranged “sham” commercial deals with sponsors to “artificially inflate” revenues and reduce costs by “more than £900 million” from the 2009-10 season through 2017-18. Our earlier stories cover the Man City guilty verdict and why sanctions loom after the guilty verdict.

Any Man City compensation claims would likely rest on the idea that rivals and their players lost money because City gained an unfair financial and competitive edge during those seasons.

Why the appeal timeline matters

The timeline matters for any Man City compensation claims because lawsuits would wait on the appeal. New Premier League rules require appeals to be wrapped up within 12 weeks, with hearings capped at five days, according to Sky Sports. City could push the process into 2027, however, by arguing those rules should not apply because it was charged in 2023, before they took effect.

A legal expert told Sky Sports News that City would have a strong case on that point. City’s lead barrister, Lord Pannick KC, charges £5,000 an hour, Sky Sports reported, and the outlet noted City’s lawyers could be fighting on multiple fronts for years.

That includes pressure from City’s own partners. Principal sponsor Etihad Airways is considering legal action against the Premier League over how the findings were made public.

What’s next

City’s appeal deadline is Friday. If the club loses on appeal or the verdict otherwise stands, players, agents and clubs could move ahead with litigation. No Man City compensation claims have been formally filed, and the efforts reported so far are preliminary and depend on a final ruling against City.

Reporting from Sky Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Associated Press and BBC Sport contributed to this story.

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.