By Lori Ewing
MANCHESTER, England, Sept 25 (Reuters) – Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, The Athletic reported on Friday, a potentially seismic development in a case that has hung over English football for years.
The club are expected to appeal, indicating that the process was not yet complete. They have always denied any wrongdoing.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality,” the club said in a statement to British media.
“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 the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
The Premier League declined to comment.
“It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all,” a spokesperson said.
If confirmed, the guilty verdict would represent one of the most significant rulings in English football history in a case that has overshadowed the league for more than three years.
The proceedings have raised questions about financial regulation, competitive integrity and how the league enforces its rules against its most successful clubs.
ALLEGATIONS SPANNING MORE THAN A DECADE
The Premier League referred City to an independent commission in February 2023 over alleged breaches of financial rules spanning the 2009-10 to 2022-23 seasons. The club have consistently denied wrongdoing.
Among the most serious allegations was that City failed in each season from 2009-10 to 2017-18 to provide accurate financial information giving a “true and fair view” of revenues, including sponsorship income, and operating costs.
City hired lawyer David Pannick to lead their defence, while the Premier League was represented by Adam Lewis, according to British media reports.
The hearing began on September 16, 2024, and concluded nearly three months later on December 6. The case was heard by an independent commission composed of three people appointed by the independent chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel.
European soccer’s governing body UEFA banned City from the Champions League for two years by in 2020 after finding the club had overstated sponsorship revenue between 2012 and 2016.
City, however, successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which overturned the ban.
Since Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club in 2008, City have won eight Premier League titles, the Champions League, four FA Cups and seven League Cups.
City currently top the Premier League after winning each of their opening five matches.
HIGH STAKES
The stakes are particularly high because other clubs have already faced sporting sanctions for breaching financial regulations.
Everton were docked a total of eight points during the 2023-24 season after two separate breaches of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, while Nottingham Forest were deducted four points for a breach of the same rules in March 2024.
Newcastle United narrowly avoided potential sanctions after selling players before a June 30, 2024, financial reporting deadline to comply with spending regulations.
The allegations against City are far broader and cover more than a decade, making the case unprecedented in scale. Lawyers, club executives and supporters across the league have spent years awaiting a verdict.
Responding to the reports, Caroline Dinenage, chair of Britain’s Culture, Media and Sport select committee, urged that due process be followed while calling for the case to be concluded as quickly as possible.
“The reports … have profound implications for our national game,” Dinenage said in a statement.
“The extraordinary length and cost of this process raise serious concerns, and the affair again gives rise to questions about financial fairness across the football pyramid.
“The matter must be allowed to take its course and due process must be followed, but I sincerely hope any further stages are completed as swiftly as is reasonably possible.”
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Goa, Lori Ewing in ManchesterEditing by Toby Davis, Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)
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