The Football Association have broken their silence on the Manchester City case, issuing their first official response since an independent commission reportedly delivered its verdict earlier this week.
On Tuesday, the Premier League announced that the commission had found City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of its financial rules across nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18, as well as the majority of charges linked to the club’s failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
The breakdown has been widely reported as 114 of the original 115 charges.
According to the Premier League, the commission found that City arranged sham contracts with several commercial partners as part of a disguised funding scheme worth more than £830 million.
League chief executive Richard Masters said the ruling showed the club had systematically broken the rules for nearly a decade.
In a statement on Tuesday, the club said they were disappointed and surprised by the commission’s opinion and insisted it contained clear material errors of law, principle and fact.
They have until today, Friday 2 October, to lodge an appeal, which would be heard by a new three person commission.
It is against that backdrop that English football’s governing body has now spoken.
The FA statement read, “The Independent Commission’s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game.”
“We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.”
“As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage.”
“We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.”
The wording is significant.
By referring to the integrity of the game and promising action where appropriate, the FA have left the door open to their own involvement, although they have not specified what that action could look like.
For now, the governing body appears content to wait for the Premier League process to run its course.
Pressure is also building elsewhere.
BBC Sport reports that the Treasury Committee, chaired by Dame Meg Hillier, has written to HM Revenue and Customs asking whether it has requested the redacted documents contained in the commission’s report.
That follows a report by Tax Policy Associates which claims City may have avoided as much as £12 million in tax through an alleged sham contract with former manager Roberto Mancini, a figure it says could rise to £24 million with penalties.
City’s principal sponsor, Etihad Airways, has said it is considering legal action against the Premier League and rejects any suggestion it was involved in improper commercial arrangements.
Sources told BBC Sport that City are expected to argue in their appeal that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club’s owners.
Crucially, no punishment has yet been decided.
The Premier League has said the sanction is still to be determined, and the possible outcomes being discussed range from heavy fines and points deductions to relegation.
None of those options has been confirmed.
For Liverpool supporters, the case carries particular weight.
City won three Premier League titles during the period covered by the charges, including the 2013/14 campaign, when Brendan Rodgers’ side finished second, just two points behind.
Whether that history is ever revisited remains entirely unclear.
What is clear is that the FA are now watching closely, and the next steps could reshape English football for years to come.
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