Manchester City Found Guilty of Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
Manchester City have been found guilty of serious Premier League financial-rule breaches by an independent commission, with the club now facing a separate process to determine any sporting punishment.
Case at a glance
| Item | Figure or date | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Period examined | 2009-10 to 2017-18 | Nine seasons covered by the findings |
| Financial distortion | More than £900m | Linked to commercial arrangements ruled to have inflated income and reduced costs |
| Appeal deadline | Friday, October 2 | City’s deadline to activate an appeal |
The ruling, confirmed on Tuesday, concluded that City used non-genuine commercial contracts which boosted reported revenue while lowering expenditure. The arrangements were found to have distorted the club’s accounts by over £900m during the period under investigation.
City were also held liable on most counts concerning a lack of cooperation with the inquiry. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the verdict showed the club had broken competition rules systematically over almost a decade.
No penalty has yet been imposed. A further hearing will decide the sanction, leaving City exposed to potential sporting consequences while the legal process continues.
City have rejected the findings and will appeal. The club described the commission’s conclusion as unsafe, arguing it contained material mistakes in law, principle and fact.
In a defiant response, City maintained they were innocent of the Premier League’s accusations and said they possessed extensive evidence supporting their position throughout the case.
The fallout was visible outside the Etihad Stadium, where the large Manchester City crest was vandalised with an obscene slur shortly after the decision emerged.
What happens next: City have until Friday, October 2, to lodge their appeal. The scale of any eventual punishment will be addressed separately, with no sanction confirmed at this stage.
