Manchester City slams Premier League ruling as unsafe, pledges relentless appeal

Abdullateef Fowewe

Manchester City has expressed “disappointment and surprise” after an independent Premier League Commission found the club guilty of serious breaches of financial rules spanning nearly a decade.

The club in a statement on Tuesday insisted it is “innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League” and claimed “a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions.”

City said it will now “pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.”

The club added that it has “diligently respected due process for eight years” and will be “relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.”

It noted that “the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.”

The charges, first brought in February 2023, related to alleged breaches between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.

The independent Commission found that Manchester City arranged “sham” contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million.

It also ruled that the club filed misstated accounts, concealed its true financial position from auditors and regulators, significantly breached Premier League and UEFA spending limits, and failed in its duties of co-operation during the investigation.

Sanctions have not yet been determined. A further hearing is expected to decide on potential punishments, which could range from fines and points deductions to more severe measures. City have consistently denied wrongdoing throughout the multi-year process and have signalled they will fight the findings through every available channel