Manchester City has been found guilty of nearly all of more than 115 financial charges related to alleged breaches of Premier League rules over a nine-year period, according to an independent panel’s report released Tuesday. The Abu Dhabi-backed club is accused of artificially inflating its revenue by over $1 billion through "sham" commercial contracts, enabling it to circumvent financial fair-play regulations and strengthen its squad with some of the world’s top players.
The investigation, which began after leaked club emails and documents surfaced in 2018, covered a series of alleged violations from 2009 to 2018, alongside additional charges relating to the club’s failure to cooperate with the inquiry between 2018 and 2023. The Premier League described the findings as “the most significant” disciplinary case in its history.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the ruling demonstrated that Manchester City had “systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade.” The club is said to have misrepresented sponsorship revenues and concealed its true financial position from auditors and football regulators through a series of deceptive contracts with commercial partners. These practices allegedly allowed City to present inflated financial information, bypassing spending limits designed to promote financial stability in English football.
As a result of the verdict, the club now faces potentially severe sanctions, including a substantial points deduction or even expulsion from the league. The Premier League will determine any penalties at a subsequent hearing conducted by an independent commission. The league has set a deadline of Friday for any appeal submissions from Manchester City.
Manchester City has consistently denied wrongdoing, with club officials calling the case “based on a single false accusation” and expressing surprise and disappointment at the verdict. The club stated it would appeal the decision and continue to vigorously defend its position, emphasizing confidence in proving its innocence. City chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak reiterated the club’s resolve to clear its name as the case unfolds.
The ruling has sent shockwaves through English football, with rival clubs warning they may seek compensation for financial losses incurred while City purportedly gained an unfair advantage, and some fans and players questioning whether City should be stripped of titles won during the period in question.
The case has attracted widespread attention due to Manchester City’s transformation over the years from a relative underdog overshadowed by local rival Manchester United to a dominant force in England and Europe, claiming multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. The allegations and investigation have highlighted ongoing challenges in enforcing financial regulations in the world’s wealthiest football leagues.