Man City Found Guilty Over Financial Breaches

An independent commission has ruled Manchester City guilty of serious financial breaches spanning 2009–10 to 2017–18.

The panel determined the club arranged what the independent Commission described as “sham” contracts and agreements to disguise owner funding from Abu Dhabi United Group, artificially inflating revenues and lowering expenses by over £900 million.

City misrepresented accounts to auditors and regulators, breaching spending limits and obstructing the investigation. English Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters stated: “The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.”

He added that “this disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history.”

Former chairman David Bernstein warned: “The sanctions cannot just be financial. Money doesn’t mean much to the Abu Dhabi owners.”

City maintain their innocence. A club statement noted: “The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.”

Chief Executive Ferran Soriano dismissed the findings as a “Premier League conspiracy theory.”

City have until Friday, 2 October, to appeal, with potential penalties including points deductions or expulsion.

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