The Premier League has officially confirmed that Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the competition’s financial rules over a nine-season period.
Manchester City's owners artificially inflated the club's commercial revenue by £830 million ($1.1 bn) between 2009 and 2018, the Independent Commission found during the Premier League hearing into the 115 charges for serious financial breaches.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the league revealed the findings of the independent commission appointed to consider the case against City, bringing significant clarity to one of the biggest disciplinary cases in English football history.
The commission found that between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, City used what it described as “sham” arrangements with several commercial partners to artificially increase revenue and reduce costs.
According to the Premier League, the schemes resulted in City’s revenues being inflated and costs reduced by more than £900 million during the affected period, helping the club appear compliant with financial regulations. The commission also found that City filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of their finances from auditors and football regulators.
The commission further determined that City would have been significantly in breach of both Premier League and UEFA spending limits had the relevant agreements been accurately reflected in the club’s accounts.
City were also found guilty of the majority of charges relating to their failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation. Three of the four alleged breaches in that area were upheld, with the commission concluding that the club had made concerted efforts to frustrate the investigation.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the decision as “the most significant in Premier League history”, while stressing that the process is not yet complete.
Crucially, Manchester City’s punishment has not yet been decided.
The sanction will be determined at a separate hearing before the independent commission, which will remain private until the outcome can be published. The Premier League has therefore not announced a points deduction, fine, relegation or any other punishment at this stage.
City also have the right to appeal the commission’s findings and have until Friday, 2 October to do so. Reports indicate that the club intends to challenge the decision.
That means English football’s biggest financial case isn’t over yet.
However, after years of investigation and speculation, the Premier League has now officially confirmed the central finding: Manchester City committed serious breaches of its financial rules across a nine-season period.
The next major question is what punishment will follow.
Lwanele is the Content Manager for BetJets News and has dedicated six years to creating top-notch sports betting content for major bookmakers, establishing himself as a trusted source for betting advice. As the resident tipster for TAB’s popular TV show Racing Today, he specialises in cricket, MMA, and soccer betting. Known for his keen analysis and practical tips, Lwanele provides BetJets readers with the tools they need to approach betting with confidence and strategy.
