Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules following an independent Commission’s ruling covering a nine-season period.
The Commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to the period between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, as well as the majority of charges concerning its failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.
According to the ruling, Manchester City arranged a series of “sham” commercial agreements with sponsors that misrepresented the true nature of the deals. The Commission found that the arrangements artificially inflated the club’s revenues while reducing its reported costs.
The schemes were allegedly funded in part by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), the company that owned the club.
The Commission found that the arrangements enabled Manchester City to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million during the period under review.
It concluded that the club subsequently submitted misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from auditors and football regulators.
The ruling also found that Manchester City would have breached both the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s financial regulations by a “very substantial amount” had the relevant agreements been accurately reflected in its accounts.
The Commission further found the club guilty of multiple breaches of its duty to cooperate with the Premier League during the four-year investigation. Three of the four alleged breaches were upheld.
The Commission said Manchester City had made “concerted efforts to stop and frustrate” the investigation.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said the decision established the facts surrounding the club’s conduct and vindicated the league’s decision to pursue the case.
He described the disciplinary proceedings and the ruling as the most significant in Premier League history.
However, the Commission has not yet imposed a sanction on Manchester City.
The issue of punishment will be considered separately at a further hearing before the independent Commission. Possible sanctions under Premier League rules include fines, points deductions and other sporting measures.
The sanction hearing will remain private until publication of the outcome is permitted.
Manchester City have the right to appeal the Commission’s findings and have until Friday, October 2, to exercise that right.
The Premier League said it intends to conclude the remaining process, including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions, as soon as possible.
The Premier League began investigating Manchester City in December 2018 before formally issuing a complaint in February 2023.
The independent Commission subsequently held a 42-day hearing that concluded in December 2024. Its decision was based on extensive evidence, including approximately 7,000 pages of witness and expert testimony transcripts and detailed written submissions from the parties.
The Premier League has published a redacted version of the Commission’s Core Decision, while additional appendices will be released when the league is permitted to do so.
