Manchester City have been found guilty of breaching a large number of Premier League financial regulations following an independent commission’s investigation into more than 100 allegations against the club.
The Premier League announced the findings on Tuesday, September 29, saying the commission had upheld almost all of the charges relating to the period between 2009 and 2018.
Among the most serious findings, the commission concluded that Manchester City had artificially increased their reported revenues by more than £900 million ($1.19 billion) and had been involved in what it described as “sham payments.”
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The commission also found that the club had taken steps that were intended to circumvent the Premier League’s financial rules.
The case has been under investigation for almost two years, following allegations concerning the club’s financial arrangements and its compliance with league regulations.
Manchester City, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan since 2008, have strongly rejected the findings.
Manchester City to Appeal Decision
The Premier League confirmed that Manchester City have the right to challenge the commission’s findings.
The club has until October 2, 2026, to lodge an appeal.
In a statement released after the verdict, Manchester City said it was “disappointed and surprised” by the decision and maintained that it was innocent of the allegations.
The club argued that it had provided extensive evidence in support of its position and said it would continue pursuing the matter through the appropriate regulatory and legal channels.
Manchester City also described the commission’s opinion as containing what it considers to be significant errors involving law, principle and fact.
Club Remains Defiant
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano also sought to reassure employees following the publication of the commission’s findings.
In a message to staff, Soriano maintained that the club had provided evidence showing that its sponsorship revenues were genuinely paid by the sponsors involved.
He said the club would pursue every available avenue in an effort to overturn the decision.
The club’s position remains that the allegations brought against it are unfounded, despite the commission upholding the majority of the charges.
Premier League Defends Investigation
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the commission’s decision confirmed the league’s justification for pursuing the case.
The allegations originally came to wider public attention after information obtained by a Portuguese computer hacker was published by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018.
According to Masters, the commission’s findings establish what took place at Manchester City during the period covered by the investigation.
He said the decision showed that the club had breached Premier League rules over a period of several years.
Masters also defended the league’s responsibility to enforce regulations agreed to by its member clubs, arguing that the rules are necessary to maintain the integrity and competitive balance of the competition.
He described the disciplinary proceedings as the most significant case in the history of the Premier League.
Sanctions Yet to Be Decided
Despite the commission’s findings, the case has not reached its final stage.
The Premier League said the sanctions to be imposed on Manchester City will be considered at a separate hearing.
The possible punishment therefore remains undecided, while the club prepares to challenge the findings through the appeal process.
The outcome of the appeal and the subsequent sanctions hearing will determine the next major developments in the long-running dispute between Manchester City and the Premier League.
The case remains ongoing.
Source: The Athlete
