BREAKING • 29 SEPTEMBER 2026
Manchester City found guilty of serious Premier League financial rule breaches
An independent Commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over nine seasons. Sanctions will be decided separately, while City say they will appeal.
Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules following one of the most significant disciplinary cases in English football history.
The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday that an independent Commission found City guilty of all charges relating to serious financial-rule breaches across a nine-season period, from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The club was also found guilty of three of the four alleged breaches concerning its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith during the League’s investigation.
What the Commission found
According to the Premier League’s published core findings, the Commission concluded that Manchester City used commercial arrangements described as “sham” agreements which misrepresented the true arrangements between parties.
- The Commission found that the arrangements artificially increased the club’s reported revenues and reduced its costs.
- It found that City filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from auditors and football regulators.
- It concluded that the schemes affected the club’s reported position by more than £900 million over the relevant period.
- It found that, had the relevant agreements been reported accurately, City would have been in very substantial breach of Premier League and UEFA spending limits.
- Three of four alleged breaches relating to co-operation and utmost good faith were upheld.
The issue of sanction will be dealt with at a separate hearing. No punishment has yet been imposed.
Sanctions still to be decided
The Premier League says the independent Commission has broad discretion over sanctions. The rules include fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions, but the League has not announced what penalty it will seek and the Commission has not yet decided one.
At this stage, no Premier League titles or other trophies have been stripped. The sanctions process remains separate from the findings published today.
Manchester City will appeal
Manchester City reject the findings. In their official response, the club said it was “disappointed and surprised” by the Commission’s opinion, maintained that it is innocent of the Premier League’s accusations and said it will pursue the appeal avenues available to it.
The Premier League says City have until Friday 2 October to exercise their right of appeal. The League says it intends for the full process, including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions, to be concluded as soon as possible.
Why this matters
The ruling establishes the independent Commission’s findings on conduct stretching across almost a decade, but it does not yet settle the final sporting consequences. The next major development will be the sanctions hearing, followed by the outcome of any appeal lodged by Manchester City.
What sanction, if any, do you think should follow these findings? And should any punishment apply to the present day or the seasons covered by the breaches?