Man City Found Guilty of Serious Financial Breaches

An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of serious Premier League financial breaches, exposing the club to severe sanctions after a four-year investigation.

The commission concluded that the Abu Dhabi-backed club arranged “sham” commercial contracts between 2009 and 2018 to artificially inflate revenues by over £830 million, understate staff contract liabilities by £17 million, and hide operating expenses.

City concealed its actual financial situation by surreptitiously transferring money from owner Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group to avoid Premier League and UEFA spending caps by “a very substantial amount.”

The ruling also condemned the club’s conduct during the inquiry, finding City guilty of non-cooperation and attempting to frustrate investigators. The commission determined that several key witnesses for the club lied under oath and presented false evidence.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters called the ruling the most significant disciplinary decision in league history, while British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy highlighted the stark severity of the findings.

Although no penalties have been announced yet, potential consequences range from heavy fines and points deductions to stripping past titles or expelling the club from the Premier League entirely.

City expressed surprise at the verdict, citing material errors of law and fact, and vowed to lodge an official appeal to clear its name.