Manchester City found guilty of 114 charges relating to financial breaches
Manchester City has been found guilty on 114 charges out of 115 relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
The Athletic reported the guilty verdicts with no sanctions decided as City prepare to appeal.
Manchester City face sanctions over the charges. Getty
City was first charged with the offences on February 6, 2023 and the club at the time said it was “surprised” and welcomed a review into the matter by an independent commission.
The club reiterated that stance in a statement to The Athletic on Friday.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023,” a City spokesperson said.
“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 hearing into the alleged rule breaches ended in December 2024. Frustration has grown across the Premier League, from fans specifically, as the process continued to be drawn out, particularly amid City’s four-peat of Premier League titles from the 2020-21 season to 2023-24 season.
The alleged breaches go back to a period between 2009 and 2018 when the club was accused of failing to provide the Premier League with accurate financial information.
This information included details of payments to players and coaches, which named involved former manager Roberto Mancini and star player Yaya Toure. The charge relating to Mancini was that the club did not release the full details of his pay over his four seasons at the club. The same applied for Toure over his six seasons.
There was also references to breaches of UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
From the 2009 to 2018 period, City won the Premier League three times, the FA Cup twice, the Community Shield and League Cup on four occasions.
The sanctions for City could be significant with the possibility of expulsion from the Premier League. A reprimand, fines or point deductions could also be punishments.
