Manchester City have confirmed they have lodged an appeal against the guilty verdict handed down by an independent panel concerning financial breaches. The Premier League, in principle, are looking at a clear deadline following the appeal, though circumstances could change.
City were incensed after the panel determined the club had committed violations between 2009 and 2018. A scathing statement claimed that the Abu Dhabi United Group club had 'artificially inflated' revenue by £900million to meet regulatory requirements, and branded their sponsorship arrangements as "sham" deals.
Club statement confirms appeal
A club statement issued on Friday morning declared: "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 to decision
The FA issued their own statement on Friday, stating: "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 potential changes
Following the appeal, the Premier League now technically faces a deadline to deliver a final judgment. The governing body's rules and regulations stipulate that any appeal hearing must be convened within 12 weeks of a challenge being lodged. The appeals board must also deliver its decision within 30 days of the hearing's conclusion. Taking everything into account, this means the Premier League ought to arrive at a final verdict by January 23, 2027, at the latest.
But another provision within the Premier League handbook allows for this regulation to be set aside when deemed necessary. It is further understood that this clause was introduced only during the summer.
Should this prove to be the case, it would mean the Premier League could take whatever time they deem necessary to scrutinise every aspect of the case in minute detail. This would, however, once again leave football fans and rival clubs facing a prolonged wait before City's fate is finally determined.
The club are barred from taking the matter 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 resolved within England and Wales. Given that CAS is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, City will have no recourse to the governing body should they find themselves unhappy with the league's conclusions.
