An increasing number of English football executives are calling for the Premier League to investigate Manchester City’s conduct after 2018, according to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney.

The pressure comes as City appeal against the verdict that found them guilty of 114 breaches of financial rules and await the league’s decision on sanctions.

The calls do not mean City have been charged again. No new investigation has been announced, and the Premier League has declined to discuss the case until it is fully concluded.

However, executives are reportedly urging the league to examine whether issues identified in the original case continued beyond 2018.

Why Executives Want City’s Post-2018 Seasons Examined

The original case stemmed from Football Leaks emails published by Der Spiegel in November 2018. The documents covered the period from 2009 to 2018 and ultimately led to the Premier League investigation that resulted in the independent commission’s verdict.

The focus has now shifted to what happened after that period. Executives reviewing the original charges are questioning whether the alleged conduct stopped when the Football Leaks period ended.

One source raised the question: “What changed overnight?”

City’s success since then has added to the significance of those concerns. The club won four consecutive Premier League titles, six in seven years, completed a domestic treble and then secured the 2022–23 treble, which included the Champions League.

The Related-Party and Sponsorship Findings Behind the Pressure

The reported basis for further scrutiny lies in the commission’s findings on City’s commercial relationships. It concluded that City and its Abu Dhabi-based sponsors were “Related Parties”, with its decision finding that sponsorship deals had been inflated through disguised owner investment.

Executives are now questioning whether those relationships continued after 2018. If they did, City may not have reported the arrangements or had the fair market value of sponsorships assessed in subsequent seasons.

This is the issue they want the Premier League to examine, rather than a fresh allegation already considered by the commission.

However, there is disagreement over the legal route. Some executives believe post-2018 commercial deals were subject to associated-party rules and had already been assessed at fair market value.

Others dispute that interpretation, arguing that the central issue would be disguised funding rather than the associated-party rules themselves.

That distinction could determine whether a new case would be straightforward or legally and procedurally complex. The Premier League has not said whether it intends to act on the concerns.

What The Appeal and Sanctions Mean for City’s Future

City are appealing the verdict on the 114 charges and continue to insist on their innocence. The Premier League’s process is currently on hold while it awaits the outcome of the appeal and considers sanctions.

Sources expect a decision this month, although no date or details have been confirmed. The prospect of a further investigation could also influence the sanctions process. One source told The Independent:

“When you’re seeking to agree on a potentially severe punishment, the Premier League can be shown to have given them a concession and spare them further.” Another described the pressure as “useful for the end game”.

The commission could potentially recommend stripping City of the 2012, 2014 and 2018 Premier League titles, although that outcome is currently viewed as unlikely.

Any decision on sanctions, the appeal or a new investigation could have significant consequences for the club, including whether the uncertainty deters prospective buyers.

The Premier League must now weigh up whether to pursue a potentially lengthy new inquiry or wait for the current appeal and sanctions process to conclude. For now, City face the prospect of further scrutiny, but no additional charges have been confirmed.