The Premier League announced on Sep. 29 that an independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges of serious breaches of financial rules, covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The club was also found guilty of most charges relating to its failure to cooperate with the investigation.
According to the ruling, Manchester City signed "sham contracts" with several commercial partners, fabricating transactions and artificially inflating revenue while reducing costs by more than £900 million. The commission also found that City submitted false accounts, concealed its true financial situation from auditors and football regulators, and seriously breached Premier League and UEFA spending caps.
Because Premier League rules do not set fixed penalties, Manchester City's punishment could range from a fine, points deductions in the current or past seasons (meaning the stripping of titles), a ban on registering players, to expulsion from the Premier League.
The case originated from the 2018 "Football Leaks" documents. The Premier League brought 115 charges in February 2023. The hearing began in September 2024 and ended in December. The ruling, delayed for nearly two years, has finally been delivered.
Manchester City said it was disappointed and surprised by the ruling, stating that the club did not commit the violations. City believes the ruling contains "clear substantive errors" in law, principle, and fact, and will appeal.
It is widely expected that Manchester City will appeal immediately. Under the rules, the losing party has the right to appeal. If the guilty verdict becomes final, several clubs have already reserved the right to seek compensation from Manchester City. Guardiola left the club this summer, and new manager Maresca has inherited a precarious mess.
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