By IAN HERBERT, DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER

Published: 13:20 BST, 27 September 2026 | Updated: 15:40 BST, 27 September 2026

Legal experts expect Manchester City to be free to lift this season’s Premier League trophy, despite having been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them.

City’s anticipated appeal, hinted at by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak in a statement at the weekend, could ultimately see them take the case to the High Court.

The Financial Times reported at the weekend that the single charge against City which has not been proven was one of the most serious. That may strengthen the club’s resolve.

Experts say that the grounds for a successful appeal, which would have to be heard by a separate and newly convened independent commission, are narrow. But if an appeal failed, City could seek a judicial review of the commission’s findings at the High Court.

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To do so, they would need to demonstrate that the Premier League acted outside its powers or reached a conclusion which no reasonable authority could have reached. If either could be proved by City’s legal team, the outcome could be quashed. But City would need the High Court’s permission to make a judicial review application and the bar is high.

Legal experts expect Manchester City to be free to lift this season’s Premier League trophy

Man City were found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them on Friday

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It is unclear how much of the independent commission’s findings will be made public. Most arbitration processes have strict confidentiality rules in place. Though City and the Premier League are likely to have waived some of the right to confidentiality, it is possible that only a summary or redacted version of the judgement will be published.

The likely legal delays mean it is entirely possible that Premier League executives may be left to watch City lift the title at the Etihad Stadium next spring, should they maintain their strong start to the season. The side are currently three points clear at the top of the table. ‘The final outcome of this case, particularly in relation to sanctions, may still take considerable time to be resolved,’ said Chris Partington, a lawyer at Brandsmiths.

The independent commission’s findings are likely to be straining relations between the UK and the United Arab Emirates, whose sovereign wealth funds have been embedded in Manchester’s urban development during Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s time as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.

Asked if City should be stripped of previous titles, Burnham said on Friday: ‘People shouldn’t jump to those kind of conclusions. I think we would all need to study the independent commission’s report in some detail.’

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Great Dane Lilly, aged four, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma this month despite having no symptoms.

A Scots couple are heartbroken after their beloved dog was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer following an injury that left her with a “baseball-sized” swelling on her leg. Kelsey Kiernan and Lewis Sullivan’s world turned upside down when Great Dane Lilly, aged four, was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma this month despite having no symptoms.

The couple, who live in Chryston, North Lanarkshire, initially took Lilly to the vets after she injured her leg. After banging her leg off an object while playing at home, she sustained a “baseball-sized” swelling and was taken to the vets.

The family thought she had fractured her leg, but nothing could prepare them for what came next. Following an X-ray, she was referred to an oncologist who met her on September 8, carried out biopsies and CT scans, and amputated her full front leg and scapula (shoulder blade) on the same day.

Kelsey, 29, told Glasgow Live: “The results crushed us because we were expecting, worst case scenario, a fracture and we came out with a cancer that is going to kill our dog. It broke our hearts.

“She is so young and incredibly fit and muscular. We do a variety of high intensity, explosive dog sports together. She was ready to compete for her BH title (companion dog test) in IGP (a competitive international dog sport that evaluates a dog’s tracking, obedience, and protection skills).

“To be diagnosed with something so debilitating has broken me.” Lilly, who weighs 50 kilos, couldn’t walk on the first day she had her limbs amputated.

She would fall onto her face which was devastating for Kelsey and Lewis, 30, to see. However, since the surgery she is improving and started chemotherapy on Thursday, September 24.

Kelsey added: “She is genuinely defying all the odds and doing so well given her size and weight. Her balance isn’t perfect and she still has to think about everything she does, but she is already upbeat enough that she wants to run, jump, and play with us or my other dogs already.

“The life expectancy for dogs with osteosarcoma without pursuing treatment is very poor, she wouldn’t last more than a month or two. However dogs treated with chemotherapy have a median life expectancy of 12-14 months.

“The best possible outcome is 18 months- two years. Although there are miracle cases where dogs have lived longer. Lilly isn’t just your average pet dog though, so we have hope she can beat the odds.”

The couple have so far spent over £10k on Lilly’s treatment and her insurance has “maxed out”, meaning they need vital funds to continue her cancer treatment. Kelsey said: “The costs of all the treatment is eye-watering.

“My jaw hit the floor when they told me. This is so surreal, we didn’t see it coming. Lilly means the same as what someone’s child would mean to them.

“I have a lot of dogs and she is my soul dog. She is the most significant dog I have ever had in my life.

“I have grown so much with this dog. She has shaped my career as well, in terms of how much I help other dogs. The amount I’ve learnt from her, in the four years I’ve had her, has helped me go on to help so many other dogs.

“She meant the world to me and I can’t imagine what it would be like if she wasn’t here. Without the chemotherapy, this cancer would take her very quickly from me. There is no permanent cure and it’s a matter of giving us more time with our dog.

“This cancer is very aggressive. The support is so enlightening and I am lost for words for how kind everyone has been.”

In total, the cost of treatment is expected to reach £23,000. Support the fundraising appeal for Lilly’s treatment here.

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The East Coast is bracing for more rain Sunday as a deadly nor’easter storm continues to wreak havoc on the region for a third day.

The storm remained just south of Long Island and east of northern New Jersey on Sunday morning and was expected to loop around the area for another 24 hours, said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service in College Park, Maryland.

The worst of the remaining rainfall was expected Sunday from northern New Jersey through New York City and Long Island into southern New England. The storm was gradually weakening, Oravec said, but the threat of tidal flooding would linger through high-tide cycles Sunday morning and again in the evening.

“The most impactful parts of the storm are likely going to be the high winds and the tidal flooding,” Oravec said.

A municipal worker for the New York City Housing Authority was killed in Brooklyn when a tree collapsed amid fierce gusts and heavy downpours. Across New England and the mid-Atlantic, emergency personnel worked to clear fallen timber and restore electricity after blackouts affected approximately 100,000 households and businesses.

Tens of millions of residents throughout the region remained under severe weather threats into Sunday, with significant coastal inundation expected. The Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed that regional response coordination hubs were operating at an “enhanced posture,” while specialized assistance teams were on standby in New England to manage potential widespread utility failures.

Peak tidal surges were expected to hit shorelines north of Atlantic City, New Jersey, from Saturday evening into Sunday, threatening widespread inundation of roadways in bayfront and coastal neighborhoods, the National Weather Service said.

“Anyone who goes in or near the water this weekend is literally gambling with their life,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Residents in parts of New York and New Jersey navigated submerged roads by kayak, while adventurous surfers targeted unusually large ocean swells. In Sea Bright, New Jersey, first responders extracted a woman and her dog after their vehicle became trapped in floodwaters, ABC7 reported.

Rising waters submerge roads and businesses

Inside the coastal New Jersey borough of Surf City, Kenny Formica monitored security cameras from his home, watching floodwaters seep into the marina he owns. Water breaching the building is an exceptional event, Formica explained, noting the last occurrence was during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which he said caused more than $4 million in damage to his business.

Prior to the storm’s arrival, marina staff fastened dock lines, relocated loose gear out of harm’s way, and staged company trucks and forklifts on the highest ground available.

Upon waking, Formica found messages from boat owners reporting displaced vessels and watercraft. A customer forwarded video footage captured around 4 a.m. showing his 25-foot (7.6-meter) boat after it had blown off its lift.

Farther south, in Norfolk, Virginia, Ellie Hodge observed from her front porch as driving traffic generated wakes along flooded streets. The coastal city saw isolated flooding all week because of the nor’easter.

“We’ve seen cars get stuck on the road, going up the sidewalks,” Hodge said. “It’s been pretty bad this time around.”

Travel disruptions and canceled events

Travel itineraries across the region were upended. Hundreds of flights were canceled at Boston Logan International Airport, as were the vast majority of flights at the popular Massachusetts tourist destinations of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Along the North Carolina coast, a flooding-related highway closure on Hatteras Island disrupted Jayden Sink and Kimberly Laprad’s wedding plans. The Virginia couple made it onto the island before the storm, but most of their roughly 45 guests were stranded on the other side of the closure, the Island Free Press reported. A local campground offered a new venue, cabins and an officiant, and a DJ volunteered to provide music.

With the primary roadway shut down and local ferry service also out of service, boat travel through bad weather remained the only option, said Drew Pearson, emergency management director for North Carolina’s Dare County. The island has a year-round population of about 5,000 that swells much higher in warm weather, he said.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said it would soon begin emergency ferry service between Hatteras Island and the mainland.

“To folks on Hatteras, you are not on an island all alone,” Gov. Josh Stein said on social media. “North Carolina and county emergency responders are working hard to keep you safe and reconnected as quickly as possible.”

Authorities urge vigilance

Nor’easters are not unusual as New England moves into the fall season, but “this might be a little earlier than average for a big storm,” said Oravec, of the National Weather Service.

The storm’s slow movement could worsen beach erosion by subjecting the coast to a prolonged period of strong winds and waves, he said.

Hochul said coastal flooding was the biggest threat, but heavy rains, powerful winds and waves as high as 20 feet (6 meters) were also expected.

On Long Island, ferry owner Stephanie Sherman paused operations between Patchogue and the barrier island of Fire Island.

“It’s been a pretty wild storm,” Sherman said. “But nothing that we haven’t experienced in the past. These happen every so often.”

‘Our resolve remains as strong as ever’

Portadown District have this afternoon thanked their supporters as the Garvaghy Road stand-off continues.

Members of the lodge are waiting in a hall at Drumcree church and they has stated they intend to walk from there down Garvaghy Road to Carleton Street Orange Hall in Portadown, Co Armagh, where their supporters are waiting for them to arrive.

Thousands of protesters have blocked the predominantly nationalist area in a bid to prevent the Orange Order parade from passing.

A spokesperson for Portadown District Lodge said: “We have been well fed, morale remains high, and we genuinely appreciate those who have stood firm in the town. Your presence and support give us great encouragement.

“Our resolve remains as strong as ever. We are steadfast in our position and will continue to make our stand until the law is properly and fairly applied.”

A ruling by the Parades Commission adjudication body permitting the march from Drumcree Church was upheld in an “unprecedented” late-night sitting on Saturday of the High Court in Belfast just a few hours earlier.

The Drumcree parade, which was associated with violent clashes during the Troubles, has been banned since 1998.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appealed for calm on all sides.

Amid the community tensions, the Prime Minister told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg there have been “big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards”.

“I know it’s a tense situation. We do appeal for calm on all sides,” he told the programme.

The Prime Minister added: “So, obviously, a challenging situation today, but it’s very important that we work to bring calm.”

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant said he was cutting his time at Labour’s party conference in Liverpool short to travel to Belfast and speak directly with leaders there.

Sir Chris also told the BBC he wished “we weren’t in this position”, adding: “I know lots of people will be watching this very, very closely, including people who have long memories of things that happened 30 years ago, and people will be very nervous and anxious.

“So the number one thing I think is people should co-operate with the police. I want everything to pass off as calmly as is possible.

“I’m speaking to the police obviously on a regular basis throughout the day, and was last night as well, and so is my team.”

First Minister, and Sinn Féin vice-president, Michelle O’Neill said the reignition of the Drumcree dispute “brings into question how this whole peace process works”.

Party president Mary Lou McDonald called on Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to intervene to ban the parade. She said the people of the Garvaghy Road would “not be drawn back to the past”.

The group of Orangemen due to take part in the parade waited at nearby Drumcree Church, having assembled early on Sunday.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher appealed to “those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law” as he his officers would detect any offences throughout the day.

He added: “It is incumbent on us all to come together at times like this to do all we can to preserve a peaceful Northern Ireland.”

Follow our live blog for the latest updates on this developing situation on Garvaghy Road.

The 54-year-old man and 36-year-old woman were taken into custody for questioning by North Yorkshire Police this morning (Sunday, September 27).

As reported by The Press, the 28-year-old man was found collapsed by paramedics at an address on Wood Steet in the Heworth area around 11pm on Friday, September 25.

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He died in hospital yesterday in the early hours of yesterday morning.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “We are investigating the full circumstances surrounding the sudden and unexplained death of the man.

“His family have been informed and are being supported while police enquiries continue.”

“The scene was closed on Saturday evening.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 12260189777.

Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or by making an online report.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all continue to push for new signings after a hectic summer window as January quickly moves into view. Arsenal have been handed a fresh boost over Julian Alvarez after Deco admitted that Barcelona’s long-running pursuit of the striker is now over, while the Gunners continue to be linked with a host of other players including Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mikel Arteta’s assistant Miguel Molina, meanwhile, has also shed light on their attempts to sign Vinicius Jr.

The former Manchester United winger has struggled to make an impact since his £40 million move from Old Trafford

Former Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho could again be looking for a new club next summer, with his loan move to Aston Villa not working out as he would have hoped so far. The Argentine signed a season-long loan deal at Villa Park as he searched for more regular game time.

He has, however, featured off the bench just three times for Unai Emery’s side so far this season. The last three games in all competitions have seen him remain an unused substitute, including in the third round Carabao Cup victory over Coventry City.

The loan move from Chelsea includes an option to make the deal permanent in the summer for a £43 million fee. The Daily Mail reports that it would become an obligation if targets are hit, but that now looks unlikely.

Garnacho has the chance to impress his manager with Villa playing two behind-closed-doors friendlies during the international break. The report says that he scored the only goal of the game in one of those matches against Southampton this week.

Following the game win over Coventry, Emery told Garnacho what he should do to win a place in the team: “Continue working. Work, work, train, work. When he can have minutes to play, try to play well.

“He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.”

If Garnacho fails to impress Emery, then he could find himself stuck at Villa. It’s reported that there is no break clause in the loan deal between the club and Chelsea.

The 22-year-old has stuttered since completing a £40 million move from United to Chelsea just over a year ago. As part of the deal, United included a sell-on clause, meaning that they will be due a small windfall should Chelsea sell him.

The fact that the permanent deal to Villa now looks unlikely means that the Blues are likely to be on the lookout for other potentially interested clubs. It’s claimed that La Liga teams are already keeping an eye on the situation.

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Speaking after joining Villa, Garnacho outlined what he wanted from the transfer. “I was looking for a club to get confidence and to try to be the player I was in my first years at United,” he said.

“I spoke with the manager and I think he will give me the confidence to be here and to help the team.” The former United man will hope that those words come true over the next few months.

Windlebridge Garden Nursery and Tearooms, on Middlesbrough Road, has been a fixture in the area for more than 20 years and has gained a loyal following thanks to its extensive plant selection, knowledgeable staff and tearoom.

The independent business was taken over by a local family in February 2019, who have invested in a series of improvements aimed at enhancing the customer experience.

The garden centre said: “Our aim since taking over has been to slowly bring Windlebridge back to life, investing in refurbishments to improve our customers’ experience.”

As an independent garden centre, Windlebridge prides itself on customer service, with staff bringing an average of more than 15 years’ experience in the gardening industry.

Visitors can browse a wide range of outdoor and indoor plants, as well as garden furniture, gifts, cards, bird care products, pond supplies and gardening tools.

One of the centre’s biggest attractions is its tearoom, which has undergone a refurbishment and offers views towards Roseberry Topping.

One customer left a five-star review and said: “Wow.

“I came for the afternoon tea with my dad and grandparents to celebrate birthdays and my ending of A levels and just wow.

“The freshness of the food was incredible, the amount of food means we’re left with the pleasure of taking loads home with us and the use of the terrace to eat it all just tops it off.

“The sun shines down and helps create the incredible and enjoyable experience- if you don’t go you’re missing out.”

The tearoom serves breakfasts, lunches, homemade cakes and a selection of hot and cold drinks throughout the week.

Customers can also enjoy homemade pies and quiches, while vegan cupcakes are available for those looking for plant-based treats.

The venue’s sun terrace has become particularly popular during warmer weather, with dogs also welcome outside during the summer months.

The business says the tearoom is designed as a place for friends and family to meet, relax and enjoy the surrounding countryside.

With free parking, a wide retail offering and a reputation for friendly service, Windlebridge Garden Nursery and Tearooms continues to attract visitors from across Teesside and beyond.

It comes as the Northern Ireland Secretary is travelling to Belfast to speak directly with political leaders

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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appealed for calm on all sides amid plans for an Orange Order parade to pass through a predominantly nationalist area of Northern Ireland for the first time in decades.

Thousands of protesters blocked the Garvaghy Road in Portadown in a bid to prevent the parade of Orangemen passing, following an overnight court ruling in Belfast which said the march could go ahead.

The Drumcree parade, which was associated with violent clashes during the Troubles, has been banned since 1998.

Amid the community tensions, the Prime Minister told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg there have been “big gains made in Northern Ireland, and we don’t want to see things go backwards”.

“I know it’s a tense situation. We do appeal for calm on all sides,” he told the programme.

The Prime Minister added: “So, obviously, a challenging situation today, but it’s very important that we work to bring calm.”

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant meanwhile said he was cutting his time at Labour’s party conference in Liverpool short to travel to Belfast and speak directly with leaders there.

Sir Chris also told the BBC he wished “we weren’t in this position”, adding: “I know lots of people will be watching this very, very closely, including people who have long memories of things that happened 30 years ago, and people will be very nervous and anxious.

“So the number one thing I think is people should co-operate with the police. I want everything to pass off as calmly as is possible.

“I’m speaking to the police obviously on a regular basis throughout the day, and was last night as well, and so is my team.”

First minister of Northern Ireland, and Sinn Féin vice-president, Michelle O’Neill said the reignition of the Drumcree dispute “brings into question how this whole peace process works”.

She spoke from the Garvaghy Road alongside protesters who had gathered to block the parade.

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Ms O’Neill added: “The progress of the last 28 years have been brought into question by the actions of the Orange Order and those within political unionism that want to drag us backwards, and I think that brings into question – you heard it here today.

“You heard it about the people’s view of Stormont. You heard it about the terms of politics working for them, and you hear it here time and time again and we’ve certainly heard it over the last 24 hours.

“What’s the point? What’s the point whenever people are going to railroad over their rights? Whenever they’re going to try to roll back in 28 years of progress?”

DUP leader Gavin Robinson meanwhile said Ms O’Neill should “uphold lawful decisions, not inflame opposition to them”.

Mr Robinson said: “The legal position is now unequivocal. Thirty-five Orangemen can walk in silence along Garvaghy Road. The Court of Appeal found that the injunction had been granted in error, and the High Court subsequently confirmed that the Parades Commission determination must be respected.”

He added: “A First Minister’s duty is to uphold lawful decisions, not inflame opposition to them. The rule of law cannot apply only when Sinn Féin likes the outcome. Our institutions are founded on respect for the police, the courts and the rule of law.

“The Orangemen of Portadown have conducted themselves with dignity and respect for the rule of law for 28 years and once again have demonstrated their maturity today.”

Follow our live blog for the latest updates on this developing situation on Garvaghy Road.