Manchester City held negotiations with the Premier League over a possible settlement to the club’s financial-rule case before an independent commission delivered its verdict, Bloomberg reports.
The discussions ended without agreement after Manchester City consistently maintained that it was not guilty of the allegations.
One option under consideration would have allowed the club to accept a substantial financial payment while avoiding more severe sanctions, including expulsion from the Premier League and the stripping of titles.
The case concerns 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations. An independent Premier League commission subsequently found Manchester City guilty on almost all of the charges.
However, the club’s final punishment has not yet been decided.