The Premier League said on Tuesday that an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of serious financial rule breaches spanning nine seasons. The league said the club also failed to cooperate fully with its investigation. City denied wrongdoing and said it would appeal. No penalty has been imposed; a separate hearing will decide any sanction.
The findings concern the 2009-10 through 2017-18 seasons, when City grew into a dominant force in English football. The Premier League opened its investigation in December 2018 and brought its complaint in February 2023. A 42-day commission hearing ended in December 2024, according to the league's account of the process.
The commission found that City used commercial agreements that did not reflect the real arrangements with several sponsors, according to the Premier League. The league said money from the club's then owner, Abu Dhabi United Group, covered parts of sponsorship payments and other costs. It said the arrangements inflated reported revenue and reduced reported expenses by more than £900 million over the period.
The commission also found that City filed inaccurate accounts, concealed its true financial position from auditors and football regulators, and significantly exceeded Premier League and UEFA spending limits, the league said. It upheld three of four allegations concerning the club's failure to cooperate during the investigation. Those conclusions are the commission's findings and remain subject to the appeal process.
Manchester City said it was surprised and disappointed by the decision, maintained that it was innocent and argued that the opinion contained material errors of law, principle and fact. The club said it would use the available appeal routes. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the case as the most significant disciplinary decision in the competition's history, citing the need for fair rules for clubs and supporters.
The league said the commission will consider a sanction at a further, private hearing. City has until Friday, October 2, to exercise its right to appeal the findings. Until those steps are complete, the size and timing of any penalty remain undecided, leaving the consequences for the club and the competition unresolved.
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