BDO facing probe over Manchester City scandal

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 1, 2026

Manchester City was found to have submitted false financial statements and concealed nearly £900 million in breaches over almost a decade, prompting scrutiny of its auditor BDO by UK financial regulators. This scandal, one of the biggest in British sports, has led to calls for criminal investigations and ongoing reviews by authorities including the Financial Reporting Council and the Serious Fraud Office.

Manchester City’s auditing firm, BDO, may face scrutiny from financial regulators following revelations that the football club engaged in a prolonged period of financial misconduct. The Premier League’s independent commission determined that Manchester City submitted false financial statements and obscured the true state of its finances from both auditors and football authorities over nearly a decade.

The club was found to have breached regulations involving approximately £900 million between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, marking one of the most significant cheating scandals in British sports history. BDO, one of the United Kingdom’s largest auditing firms, has been responsible for signing off on Manchester City’s accounts since 2007, including during the years of the violations.

Sources within the accounting industry indicate that the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), the UK’s regulator for auditors and corporate reporting, is aware of the situation and is conducting a preliminary review to determine whether its remit includes investigating BDO’s role in the scandal. The FRC declined to provide a detailed comment. Industry insiders noted the complexity of the case, pointing out that while Manchester City deliberately misled auditors, questions may still arise about BDO’s oversight and responsibilities.

BDO has refrained from commenting on the matter, citing confidentiality obligations. The firm has previously been subject to significant penalties, having paid £7.4 million in fines during 2025-26 following two separate regulatory investigations. This sum accounted for a majority of the total £12.9 million in fines imposed by the FRC that year.

The fallout from the Manchester City case has also prompted calls for a criminal investigation. Lord Cruddas, chief executive of CMC Markets, which sponsors Everton FC, suggested that the matter should now be treated as a potential police case, given allegations of falsified accounts and misled auditors. He emphasized that company directors in the UK can be held personally liable for corporate fraud, regardless of foreign ownership.

David Bernstein, a former chairman of both the Football Association and Manchester City, echoed this view, stating that external authorities may need to review the matter. Meanwhile, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said it does not confirm or deny investigations to avoid jeopardizing any law enforcement activities.

As the situation develops, attention remains focused on both the regulatory response and the possibility of criminal proceedings stemming from the largest financial misconduct case in British sport.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.