Manchester City found guilty of financial violations

Manchester City was found guilty on Tuesday by the Premier League of financial offences in football. The independent commission found that the club confirmed 114 out of 115 allegations, which span the seasons 2009/10 to 2017/18. The decision follows an eight‑year investigation.

Scope of the Allegations

The league had originally brought forward more than 100 allegations against the ten‑time champion, of which only one was dismissed. The report by Phil Noble at Reuters made the decision public for the first time.

Fake Contracts and Financial Manipulation

The commission found that Manchester City had entered into fake contracts with several commercial partners that misrepresented the true agreements. Through these practices, the club’s revenues are said to have been artificially inflated by more than £900 million, and the expenses in the relevant period reduced by the same amount.

In addition, the club submitted false annual accounts, thereby substantially exceeding the spending limits of the Premier League and UEFA. During the investigation, Manchester City repeatedly breached its duties to cooperate and act in good faith towards the league, with three of the four alleged breaches confirmed.

Manchester City said on its website that it was disappointed and surprised and considered the decision unfair; the team emphasises its innocence and wants to exhaust all legal options.

Consequences and Possible Sanctions

The Premier League warns that possible penalties could include heavy fines, points deductions or even expulsion from the league; the club has until 2 October to appeal the ruling. Similar measures have already been imposed on Everton and Nottingham Forest in the 2023/24 season.

Manchester City was once banned by UEFA for two years over Financial Fair Play, with the International Sports Court reducing the fine from €30 million to €10 million.