The long-running financial case of Manchester City has reached a significant stage after years of investigation and legal proceedings.
The Premier League initially began investigating City in December 2018 before issuing its formal complaint against the club in February 2023.
An independent Commission subsequently conducted a 42-day hearing, which concluded in December 2024 before its findings were prepared.
The Premier League have now officially announced the outcome, confirming that the Commission found Manchester City guilty of serious financial rule breaches across nine seasons.
As per the statement, City were found guilty of every charge concerning serious breaches of its financial rules between 2009/10 and 2017/18.
The Commission also upheld three of four alleged breaches concerning cooperation. The Commission found that City used sham commercial arrangements to inflate revenue and reduce costs artificially.
It concluded that the arrangements allowed the club to inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than £900 million across the affected period.
The findings also state that City filed misstated accounts and concealed the true condition of their finances from auditors and football regulators.
Furthermore, the Commission determined that the club significantly breached spending limits imposed by both the Premier League and UEFA.
The Premier League said City also committed multiple breaches of their cooperation obligations during the four-year investigation.
However, the disciplinary process has not concluded because the Commission has yet to determine City’s punishment.
A separate private hearing will address sanctions, with Premier League rules allowing measures including fines, points deductions and other sporting penalties.
Manchester City also retain the right to appeal the Commission’s findings and have until October 2 to exercise that option.
The Premier League intends to complete the remaining process, including any appeals, as quickly as possible. Further details will remain confidential until publication becomes permitted under its rules.
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