Manchester City found guilty of 114 Premier League financial breaches

Sports

MANCHESTER, England (NPA) — Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, according to reports, in a major development in a case that has cast a long shadow over English football.

The verdict was reported by The Athletic, with City expected to appeal. The club said the Premier League process remains ongoing, indicating that the case has not yet reached its final stage.

“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,” the club said in a statement to British media.

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City maintained that its position remained consistent with its February 2023 statement and said it had respected due process throughout the proceedings. The club has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The Premier League declined to comment, saying the proceedings were confidential.

Allegations spanning more than a decade

The Premier League referred City to an independent commission in February 2023 over alleged financial breaches covering the 2009-10 to 2022-23 seasons.

Among the allegations were claims that City failed, between 2009-10 and 2017-18, to provide accurate financial information giving a “true and fair view” of revenues, including sponsorship income, and operating costs.

The hearing before the independent commission began on September 16, 2024, and concluded on December 6 after almost three months.

The commission comprised three people appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel.

Former City midfielder Rodri said he had continued to trust the club’s position throughout the case, saying the players had shared the belief that the club had done nothing wrong.

“Until the moment they’re proved wrong, we will believe the club,” Rodri said at a press conference ahead of Spain’s Nations League match against England at Wembley.

Previous UEFA case

The Premier League proceedings follow a separate UEFA case involving Manchester City.

UEFA banned City from the Champions League for two years in 2020 after finding that the club had overstated sponsorship revenue between 2012 and 2016.

City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which overturned the ban.

Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, the Champions League, four FA Cups and seven League Cups.

Rodri said the club’s achievements were the result of the efforts of the players and staff over the years.

“What we did, they cannot take out of us,” he said.

High stakes

The case has attracted particular attention because other Premier League clubs have previously faced sporting sanctions for breaching financial regulations.

Everton were deducted a total of eight points during the 2023-24 season after two separate breaches of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, while Nottingham Forest were deducted four points in March 2024 for breaching the same rules.

The allegations against City are considerably broader, covering more than a decade and involving a large number of financial and regulatory issues.

Ian Hargreaves, a partner at specialist disputes firm Quillon Law, said the reported verdict would mark the beginning of another phase of the long-running case.

He said key issues would include the sanctions considered proportionate by the commission and whether its decision could withstand an appeal.

Possible sanctions could range from financial and sporting penalties to more severe measures, depending on the commission’s findings and any subsequent appeal.

Caroline Dinenage, chair of Britain’s Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, said due process should be followed but urged that any further stages be completed as quickly as reasonably possible.

The case has generated years of debate over financial regulation, competitive integrity and the enforcement of Premier League rules.