The Premier League has officially confirmed that Manchester City were found guilty of all charges relating to financial regulation breaches spanning the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. An independent commission identified that the club orchestrated what were described as “sham contracts” with various commercial partners, effectively using these agreements to artificially inflate revenues and minimize costs. The League has remained determined that the facts be established independently, while the process to date has been both long and difficult. Kieran Maguire on potential sanctions for Man City. The story of Man City and 115 charges. Analysis and fan views, latest Manchester City news. Ask about Man City – what do you want to know.
According to the findings, the club utilized these arrangements as part of a “disguised funding scheme” amounting to approximately £830.69 million. The commission stated that the relevant sponsorship deals were either complete shams or, at a minimum, failed to reflect their true economic substance. These actions, described as deliberate and reckless efforts to bypass Premier League rules, allegedly allowed the club to avoid reporting what would have otherwise been the highest single-season loss in league history during the 2009-10 campaign. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.
The commission’s report, which was published in a redacted format, noted that the case involved well over 100 individual alleged breaches categorized into four distinct areas. Beyond the primary financial findings, the club was also found guilty of most charges regarding a failure to cooperate with the subsequent investigation.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters remarked that the commission’s decision establishes the factual history of Manchester City’s conduct during that period. He added that the ruling validates the league’s decision to pursue the matter, emphasizing that the organization remains dedicated to upholding the rules approved by all member clubs to ensure competitive fairness. Approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition, it is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules. We take that role extremely seriously.
In response to the verdict, Manchester City issued a statement expressing that the club is both surprised and disappointed by the commission’s opinion. The club maintains its innocence, claiming that a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence supports its position. They further indicated that the commission’s opinion contains significant material errors regarding law, principle, and fact, rendering it unsafe.
As the legal process continues, Manchester City has pledged to be proactive and relentless in pursuing all available appeal avenues. The club asserts that the regulatory process is far from complete, with several major elements still pending resolution.
