Image Credits: Imago Images
Manchester City have been found guilty of almost all the charges relating to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The sanctions have yet to be decided, with all possibilities remaining on the table, and City are expected to appeal.
Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges. The club was first charged in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
A Manchester City spokesperson said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
According to BBC Sport, Liverpool and other Premier League clubs are believed to have been informed of the decision in the Manchester City case.
Man City were charged following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018 and referred to an independent commission to adjudicate the case.
The investigation began after German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked financial documents from the club in November 2018.
The Premier League accused City of failing to provide accurate financial information, including details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaching UEFA’s financial fair play (FFP) regulations and the league’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). City have always denied the allegations.
Under Sheikh Mansour, whose Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League.
In February 2020, UEFA handed City a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30million (£26.8m) fine following the Der Spiegel leaks.
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the ban five months later, ruling that the alleged FFP breaches were either not established or time-barred.
CAS did find City guilty of failing to cooperate with UEFA by not providing substantial amounts of evidence. The club were fined £8.8million as a result.
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