Manchester City have lodged an appeal against the Premier League's guilty verdict on financial breaches, and the league now faces a theoretical deadline that could yet be set aside. The club was found to have made infractions between 2009 and 2018, with the independent panel ruling that revenue was 'artificially inflated' by £900 million through what were described as "sham" sponsorship deals.
Club confirms appeal
A statement released on Friday morning read: "Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter."
"The Club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe. The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case."
"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."
FA responds
The Football Association also issued a statement on Friday, writing: "The Independent Commission's decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game. We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate."
"As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely."
Deadline and possible extension
As a consequence of the appeal, the Premier League now theoretically has a limited window to deliver a final verdict. The rules stipulate that any appeal hearing must occur within 12 weeks of a challenge being lodged, and a verdict from the appeals board is required no more than 30 days after the hearing concludes. That means the Premier League ought to deliver a final decision no later than January 23, 2027.
However, reports indicate that another section of the Premier League code outlines how the regulation can be set aside if necessary, and it is suggested that said rule was only drafted this summer. If accurate, the Premier League could ultimately take as long as they deem necessary to scrutinise every aspect of the case in minute detail, leaving supporters and rival clubs enduring a prolonged wait.
The club are, however, unable to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), owing to a separate Premier League ruling. The English top flight's regulations stipulate that all disputes and appeals must be handled within England and Wales, meaning City cannot call upon the governing body should they be unhappy with the league's conclusions.
