Manchester City have said they are 'disappointed and surprised' after the Premier League confirmed the club are guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of financial rules. In a lengthy statement, it was revealed that the club had arranged 'sham' sponsorship deals, filed misstated accounts and breached spending limits to 'artificially inflate the club's revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million during the affected period'.
Premier League chief executive responds
The club also committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League throughout the course of the lengthy investigation. Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, said: 'The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade.'
'It also vindicates the Premier League's decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.'
'It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.'
City's response and appeal plans
'This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission's decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.'
City, who have until Friday to appeal, have immediately responded to the confirmed guilty charges, insisting the club is innocent of the accusations levelled against them. 'The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums,' their statement continued.
'The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.'
'The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.'
