Manchester City has been found guilty of nearly all charges brought by the Premier League related to alleged financial breaches spanning from 2009 to 2018, according to multiple reports. The ruling, made by an independent panel after a hearing that began in September 2024, represents one of the most significant disciplinary cases in English football history. However, no sanctions have yet been announced, and the club has indicated it intends to appeal the decision.
The Premier League initiated the investigation in February 2023, accusing Manchester City of providing misleading financial information over nearly a decade. The charges, totaling more than 100 counts, include allegations of inflating sponsorship revenue and failing to comply fully with the investigation. Specifically, the league suggested that City disguised direct investments from Abu Dhabi interests, including the Abu Dhabi United Group, as sponsorship income from entities like Etihad Airways and Etisalat. Additionally, there were claims concerning off-the-books payments to former manager Roberto Mancini through consultancy fees linked to a club in Abu Dhabi.
Manchester City has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that their financial conduct was compliant with the rules. A club spokesperson reiterated that their position remains unchanged and that the Premier League process is ongoing, subject to confidentiality and further steps. The club has emphasized its respect for due process and expressed the expectation that the Premier League acts as an independent, impartial regulator.
The controversy traces back to 2018 when leaked documents and emails, published by a German magazine, brought these issues to light. These documents purportedly exposed the club’s efforts to mask the true sources of revenue linked to its Abu Dhabi owners, who took control in 2008. Over the past decade, Manchester City has invested heavily in top players and has dominated English football, but the recent findings now put its reputation under scrutiny.
If the ruling is upheld after appeal, Manchester City could face severe consequences, including a significant points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League. Such sanctions would mark a dramatic turn of events for a club that has been a leading figure in the competition for more than a decade.
Notably, this is not Manchester City’s first encounter with financial regulations controversies. In 2020, UEFA issued a two-year European competition ban and a fine against the club for breaches of financial fair-play rules. However, that ban was subsequently overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Premier League declined to comment on the reported decision when contacted, indicating that the disciplinary process remains confidential and ongoing. As City prepares to mount an appeal, the football world awaits further developments in what could become one of the most consequential cases in the sport’s regulatory history.