Former Tottenham chairman Lord Alan Sugar has launched a fierce attack on Manchester City, claiming that the club have effectively “got away with murder” while the Premier League’s long-running investigation into 115 alleged financial rule breaches remains unresolved.

Manchester City were formally charged with 115 alleged violations of the Premier League’s financial regulations in February 2023. The hearing, which was conducted by an independent commission and lasted approximately 12 weeks, concluded in December 2024. However, despite the conclusion of the proceedings, no official verdict has yet been announced.

The extraordinary delay has generated growing frustration within English football, particularly because the potential consequences of the case could be enormous. Depending on the commission’s findings, Manchester City could be cleared of all allegations or face severe sporting and financial sanctions. The club have consistently denied any wrongdoing and have strongly contested the charges.

Speaking on the Football Uncensored programme, Sugar expressed his disbelief at the length of time the case has taken to reach a conclusion. The former Tottenham chairman, who occupied the role between 1991 and 2001, suggested that the prolonged process had allowed City to continue operating without knowing whether they would eventually be punished.

“I am waiting to see what is going to happen with Man City,” Sugar said. “The thing is, Man City have got away with murder.”

He argued that the allegations had been hanging over the club for several years, while Manchester City had continued to operate at the highest level of English football. Sugar also claimed that the club may have spent a substantial amount of money on legal representation during the process, suggesting that this could have contributed to the Premier League feeling intimidated by the situation.

Sugar’s comments were supported by presenter Piers Morgan, an outspoken Arsenal supporter, who also questioned how Manchester City could continue spending enormous sums of money in the transfer market while facing such serious allegations.

Morgan pointed out that City had invested heavily during the summer transfer window despite the unresolved charges. He argued that the potential consequences of a guilty verdict could be dramatic, including the possibility of Premier League titles being removed from the club or even relegation from the top flight.

Manchester City reportedly spent around £440 million during the transfer window, highlighting the scale of their continued financial activity. Among their major acquisitions was Enzo Fernandez, whose reported £125 million transfer matched the British transfer record. City also strengthened their squad with several other expensive signings, including Elliot Anderson for approximately £116 million, Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86 million and Iliman Ndiaye for around £60 million. Allan and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli were also brought into the squad.

The scale of that spending has intensified the debate surrounding the 115 charges. Critics argue that it is difficult to understand how a club can continue making such significant investments while facing the possibility of serious retrospective sanctions.

Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein has also criticised the continued delay. Bernstein, who was City chairman between 1998 and 2003 and later served as chairman of the Football Association from 2011 to 2013, described the situation as deeply concerning.

Writing in The Sunday Times, Bernstein questioned why the Premier League had chosen to pursue all 115 alleged offences rather than focusing on a smaller number of clearer and more significant cases. In his view, reducing the scope of the proceedings could have made the process considerably more efficient while still addressing the most important allegations.

Bernstein argued that Manchester City’s ability to spend hundreds of millions of pounds while the investigation remains unresolved undermines the credibility of financial regulation in the Premier League. He suggested that the situation creates the impression that the league’s rules are not being enforced quickly or effectively enough.

He also invoked the principle that justice delayed can undermine the purpose of justice itself. The longer the case remains unresolved, he argued, the more complicated its eventual consequences could become for the Premier League, Manchester City and other clubs.

The controversy has now extended into another Premier League season, meaning the charges have remained an issue for several years since they were first announced in February 2023. The lack of a final decision has consequently become one of the longest-running disciplinary stories in modern English football.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has acknowledged that the case is taking longer than originally expected. However, he has insisted that the independent process must be allowed to continue without interference from the league.

Masters has also suggested that the case may not be dominating conversations between Premier League clubs to the extent that some observers believe. According to him, clubs have numerous other issues to discuss and the league continues to operate while the independent commission considers its decision.

At the same time, Masters has previously admitted that he understands why people are frustrated by the delay. Nevertheless, he has maintained that the Premier League cannot comment on either the substance or timing of the case because of the rules governing the independent process.

Several Premier League clubs have already protected their position in case Manchester City are ultimately found guilty. Four clubs have reportedly reserved the right to seek compensation if the charges are upheld, meaning the consequences could extend beyond any punishment directly imposed on City.

The eventual verdict could therefore have significant implications for the Premier League as a whole. A guilty finding could potentially trigger debates over previous titles, financial penalties, compensation claims and other sporting sanctions. Conversely, if Manchester City are cleared, the club would be able to point to the conclusion as confirmation that the allegations were not proven.

For now, however, uncertainty remains.

Manchester City continue to compete at the top of English football while the independent commission’s decision remains outstanding. Their ability to spend heavily, strengthen their squad and pursue further success despite the unresolved allegations has ensured that the controversy has not disappeared.

Sugar’s latest criticism reflects the growing impatience among some former football executives and commentators, who believe that a case of such importance should have reached a conclusion by now. Bernstein’s intervention has added further weight to those concerns, while Masters continues to insist that the process must be allowed to reach its natural conclusion.

Until the verdict is finally announced, Manchester City will continue to operate under the shadow of the 115 allegations. The club deny all wrongdoing, while the independent commission has yet to determine whether any of the charges have been proven.

The eventual decision could become one of the most consequential rulings in Premier League history. Until then, the debate over the charges, City’s spending and the length of the investigation is likely to continue.