Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges relating to serious financial rule breaches by a Premier League independent commission. The landmark ruling states the club used 'sham' commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million over nearly a decade.

The commission concluded City were in breach of financial rules across nine seasons between 2009-10 and 2017-18. It also found the club guilty on three of four charges concerning a failure to co-operate with the investigation. The hearing, which began in September 2024, ran for 42 days over 12 weeks. The commission determined that, had the financial arrangements been reported accurately, Manchester City would have breached Premier League and UEFA spending limits by a very substantial amount, which would have significantly impacted the integrity of the competition's standings during that period.

City denies wrongdoing and prepares appeal

Manchester City have denied the findings and plan to appeal the commission's decision. The club has until this Friday to formally lodge its appeal against the verdict. Chief executive Ferran Soriano dismissed the Premier League case, arguing it was based on a single false accusation about owner's money being secretly put into the club via sponsors. He stated the club's position is backed by a large body of irrefutable evidence.

Key figures react to historic ruling

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters called the case the most significant in the competition's history. "The core decision... Details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade," Masters said. British sports minister Lisa Nandy called for a swift and fair conclusion to the case. Yasin Patel, a barrister specialising in sports law, said he expected Manchester City to fight the ruling with all their legal might, noting the club's history of robustly defending itself in legal forums.

Background and context of the case

The verdict marks a key moment in English football governance, with potential ramifications for the competitive landscape and how club finances are scrutinised. No sanction has yet been imposed on the club pending the appeal process. The findings have sparked widespread debate about financial fair play and the sustainability of football economics.

More detail at reuters.com