The Premier League has confirmed that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the competition’s financial rules over a nine-season period.
The ruling, announced on Tuesday, covers the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons and follows a four-year investigation into the club’s financial affairs. The commission also found City guilty of the majority of charges relating to its alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation.
According to the Premier League, Manchester City used what the commission described as “sham” commercial contracts and other arrangements to artificially increase reported revenues and reduce costs. The schemes were found to have affected the club’s finances by more than £900 million during the period under review.
The commission also concluded that City submitted inaccurate accounts and failed to properly disclose the true state of its finances to auditors and football regulators. It further found that the club would have significantly breached both Premier League and UEFA spending limits had the relevant financial information been accurately reported.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the decision established the facts surrounding the case and described it as the most significant disciplinary matter in the competition’s history.
However, the case is not yet fully concluded. The Premier League said the independent commission will hold a separate hearing to determine the appropriate sanctions. Manchester City also has until October 2 to appeal the findings.
Manchester City has rejected the findings and maintained that it is innocent of the allegations. The club said it would pursue the available appeal process, arguing that the commission’s opinion contains errors of law, principle and fact.
The ruling is significant because any eventual sporting or financial sanctions could have implications for Manchester City and the wider Premier League. Possible sanctions under league rules include fines, points deductions and other sporting penalties, although no punishment has yet been announced.
The Premier League originally launched its investigation in December 2018 before formally referring the case to an independent commission in 2023. The commission’s 42-day hearing concluded in December 2024.
