The Premier League have confirmed that Manchester City have been found guilty of the serious financial rule breaches levelled against them. The ruling is set to send a shockwave throughout English and European football, with ramifications expected to be felt for years to come.
City have established themselves as one of the most dominant forces in English football since the Sheikh Mansour-led takeover in 2008. Following the verdict, Express Sport has highlighted some of the big question marks hanging over the saga.
What have Man City been found guilty of?
City have been found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, and the majority of the non-cooperation charges, by an independent commission. It relates to breaches across a nine-season period, and it revealed City arranged so-called 'sham contracts', which disguised secret funding of more than £830million.
A statement from the Premier League read: "The independent Commission found that between Seasons 2009/10 and 2017/18:
- Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs
- The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators
- Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits
- During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League (three of the four alleged breaches were upheld)."
Will Man City appeal the verdict?
City are expected to challenge the verdict, and they have until October 2 to lodge an appeal. The Premier League statement read: "It's revealed the club has until October 2 to appeal the independent commission's findings, with a decision on the sanctions to follow at a later date. That hearing will take place with the independent commission and will remain private and confidential until it is publicised."
What have Man City said?
In their own statement, City doubled down on their innocence and announced their intention to keep fighting their cause. It read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.
"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. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
"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."
When will Man City be punished?
Any sanctions will be decided in a separate hearing held by the independent commission, and, in accordance with Premier League rules, that will remain private and confidential until it is published. Punishments can range from financial sanctions, to transfer bans, points deductions and even potential titles being stripped.
PA reported that four clubs – Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham – had lodged formal legal notices to reserve the right to seek compensation. It is believed they did so to avoid any potential claims being time-barred, given the allegations against City date back to 2018. That doesn't mean other clubs won't be able to seek compensation, just it would be considered harder to do so.
