Manchester City found guilty of financial fair play breaches

What’s on screen and what’s said

Every word in the video, in order, with the Guardian article it comes from. On-screen labels are in small capitals; narrated lines are marked Narration.

Sound. Narration by a synthetic British voice (Kokoro’s “George”), generated offline, over a low, serious score in a minor key. Soft typewriter-like ticks mark the years of the investigation, a single heavy note lands with the verdict, muted plucks count the trophies, and the reactions sit over sparse piano.

1. 0:00

   Title

   Guardian reporting, 25–28 September 2026

2. 0:02

   How it got here

   How it got here

   A process a decade in the making1

   20151

   Football Leaks: millions of private documents made public1

   Dec 20181

   The Premier League opens its investigation1

   Feb 20237

   City are charged with more than 100 rule breaches7

   Sept 20247

   Hearings begin before an independent commission7

   Narration The Premier League’s inquiry is believed to have been inspired by leaked documents.1

3. 0:08

   Friday 25 September

   News breaks: City are found guilty of the vast majority of more than 100 charges1

   They face possible relegation, or expulsion from the Premier League1

   City deny wrongdoing and are expected to appeal4

   More than 100 charges7

   Narration Now City have been found guilty.1

4. 0:11

   What City won in those seasons

   In the seasons the charges cover, City won1

   2009-10 to 2022-231

   7 Premier League titles1

   6 League Cups1

   3 FA Cups1

   1 Champions League1

5. 0:14

   City’s response

   “The Premier League process remains ongoing”1

   A Manchester City spokesperson1

   City deny wrongdoing and are expected to appeal4

   Narration City deny wrongdoing.4

6. 0:17

   Saturday 26 September

   “Nothing has changed”3

   Khaldoon al-Mubarak, City chair3

7. 0:18

   Reported 27 September

   Tony Pulis says his Stoke side were “cheated” in the 2011 FA Cup final4

   City won that final 1–04

8. 0:21

   Reported 28 September

   The charges include alleged failures to give accurate details of player and manager payments5

   “Manchester City is not guilty and the fact of having a double contract isn’t my problem but theirs, probably”5

   Roberto Mancini, former City manager5

9. 0:27

   End card