Premier League condemns Manchester City for 115 fouls
In the meeting room of the English football association a tense silence hung as the independent commission delivered its judgment: Manchester City was found guilty of all 115 charges brought against the club, relating to serious financial breaches over a period of nine seasons. The ruling was announced on Tuesday 29 September.
Guilty finding in financial rules
The commission concluded that Manchester City FC committed all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a period of nine seasons. The allegations cover the seasons 2009/2010 through 2017/2018, in which the club allegedly entered into sham contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate revenue.
In addition, the club is said to have filed inaccurate annual accounts and concealed the true financial situation from regulators. The commission also found that Manchester City significantly exceeded the spending limits of both the Premier League and UEFA.
The first charges were made public in February 2023, after which the Premier League launched an investigation in 2019. Of the 115 allegations, only one was dismissed, leaving the club effectively convicted on all counts. Manchester City, ten‑time Premier League champion, now faces heavy pressure.
Details of the alleged fraud
According to the Premier League, contracts with companies from the United Arab Emirates were used to artificially inflate sponsorship income. These ‘concealed’ agreements would have made the club's operating costs appear more than £900 million higher than they actually were. The Premier League stated in the Spanish press release: “El propósito de estos esquemas era inflar de forma artificial los beneficios del club”.
The publication quotes the commission: “Likewise to the majority of the charges concerning non‑cooperation with the League's investigation”. This emphasizes that the club repeatedly refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Possible consequences and appeal
The Premier League warns that sanctions can range from a hefty fine to point deductions, relegation or even exclusion from the competition. In the German coverage the club is referred to as ‘the English top club’. The exact penalty will be determined by the independent commission.
Manchester City has until 2 October to appeal the judgment. The consequences for the club remain unclear for now, as the final decision is yet to come.
Possible fines could reach tens of millions of pounds, and a point deduction could push the club to the bottom of the table. The exact amount of the fine will depend on the severity of the breaches and the level of cooperation.