MPs weigh tax probe as Man City contest Premier League verdict

Manchester City are under mounting pressure from HMRC as MPs deliberate following a Premier League verdict that found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 financial charges brought against it. The club, based at the Etihad Stadium, lodged a comprehensive appeal at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026, maintaining its innocence.

Treasury Committee seeks tax clarity

The Treasury Committee wrote to HMRC, with MPs including Dame Meg Hillier addressing the letter to JP Marks, the HMRC secretary. In the correspondence she asked whether the department had received a redacted version of the Premier League report and requested details on any common taxation issues uncovered. The letter set Thursday 15 October as the deadline for a response.

reported that HMRC may open a formal investigation to determine if City paid the correct amount of tax after the guilty verdict. The alleged breaches span a nine‑year period from 2009 to 2018, during which City secured three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups. Investigators will also look at whether remuneration paid to staff was correctly taxed.

Mancini contracts under scrutiny

Der Spiegel cited internal emails that appeared to show former manager Roberto Mancini held two separate contracts. One contract paid him £1.45 million for technical guidance of Manchester City, while a second arrangement routed £1.75 million per year to a company linked to him.

City reiterated its innocence, confirming on Friday that an appeal had been filed. The club’s statement said, “The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.” City’s legal team argued that the Premier League’s opinion was “unsafe” and contained factual inaccuracies.

The appeal, lodged at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026, was described as supported by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence”. City added that it will respect due process but is “necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete”.

HMRC’s involvement was highlighted in a report that noted the Treasury Committee’s outreach amid the ongoing saga involving Manchester City. The story was first published by Sport Central, with Mark Wakefield credited as the writer, and accompanied by a view image of the Etihad Stadium. The report highlighted the role of His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs in overseeing club finances.

The juxtaposition of a club asserting innocence while facing a potential tax probe underscores the complexity of the case. MPs must now decide on a response before the 15 October deadline, while City prepares for further legal scrutiny.