Why Inter will not be awarded the 2023 Champions League after Man City verdict

Manchester City were found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 alleged financial rule breaches that were brought against them by the Premier League, and whilst there is talk of titles being stripped as a result, Inter will not be retrospectively awarded the 2023 Champions League title that they lost to the Citizens. Back in February 2023, the Premier League giants were charged with 115 breaches of the Premier League's financial fair play rules, and were also accused of failing to co-operate with the Premier League's investigations into their financial status.

Specifically, City were charged with 54 separate counts of failing to provide accurate financial information from 2009-10 until 2017-18, 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments over the same period, five counts of failing to comply with UEFA's rules including FFP from 2013-14 until 2017-18, seven counts of breaching the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability rules from 2015-16 until 2017-18 and 35 counts of failing to co-operate with the Premier League's investigations from 2018 until 2023. Current head coach of the Italy national team,Roberto Mancini, was employed by City during the period when they were accused of failing to provide accurate information regarding payments to players and managers.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini gestures during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Wigan Athletic at the Etihad Stadium on April 17, 2013 in Manchester, England. Exact sanctions have not yet been specified, which has led to speculation among supporters and experts alike.

There has been talk of unprecedented fines, titles being stripped and potentially even relegation from the English top flight, although there are still plenty of steps before potential punishments are handed out. What is clear, however, is that Inter will not be retrospectively awarded the 2023 Champions League title following their defeat against Man City in the final in Istanbul that year.

epa12148298 Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi walks past the trophy after losing the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano, in Munich, Germany, 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ANNA SZILAGYI Even if City are stripped of their titles over the last 15 years, the independent commission that found the club guilty of their 115 charges has no jurisdiction over UEFA or its associated competitions.

According toLa Gazzetta dello Sport, it is still unlikely that City will be stripped of their Premier League titles from 2009 until 2023, let alone the one they won in the Champions League.