Manchester City Found Guilty as Football Holds Its Breath on Historic Verdict

The most consequential ruling in Premier League history arrived on Saturday, as Manchester City were found guilty on virtually all of the more than 100 financial charges brought against them in February 2023. The club denied every count throughout and is expected to appeal, meaning the full consequences remain some way off — but the verdict itself marks a watershed moment, one that will shape how English football governs financial conduct for years to come. Reactions arrived quickly, from manager Enzo Maresca and, in his own register, from lifelong City supporter Noel Gallagher.

Elsewhere, football was processing the end of eras and the beginning of others. Lionel Messi is preparing to play his final match for Argentina, with a friendly against Benin set to serve as his farewell after two decades that ended, eventually, in triumph. Lamine Yamal — who may yet define the next two decades — reflected on winning the World Cup with Spain before turning 20, saying he felt no nerves in the final, only a wish that it would never end. France won their Nations League opener against Spain, though the evening soured with a Kylian Mbappe injury. England, meanwhile, followed a now-familiar pattern of promise and collapse against the same opponents.