Man City found guilty of Premier League financial-rule breaches; appeal planned

Manchester City responded to the Premier League Commission's findings, saying the club is "disappointed and surprised" by the decision and continues to maintain that it is innocent of the accusations.In a statement, City said they have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" supporting their position in the case. The club also said it will continue to challenge the findings through all appropriate regulatory and legal channels. MAJOR BREAKING: Premier League confirm an independent Commission has found Manchester City GUILTY OF ALL CHARGES related to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate… pic.twitter.com/DBPrMnvVL3— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 29, 2026 The Premier League Commission found Manchester City guilty of financial rule breaches covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The commission also upheld three of four alleged breaches relating to the club's cooperation with the Premier League's investigation.City said the Premier League process is still ongoing and that it will now pursue the appeal avenues available to the club. According to the statement, the club believes the commission's opinion contains "clear material errors" of law, principle and fact.Club statement. https://t.co/yrJ8Z0A52Y pic.twitter.com/0NP2k33JT9— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 29, 2026 The club also said it had followed due process for the past eight years, believing that the Premier League would act as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator.Manchester City added that it is limited in what it can say publicly while the remaining proceedings are ongoing. The club will now focus on its appeal as the legal process continues.Manchester City's Full StatementManchester 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.Erling Haaland Loses His Cool In Heated Exchange With Pablo Rosario During Manchester City vs Porto Champions League Match | VideoThe 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.

Manchester City (Picture: REX) Manchester City 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 limitsto ‘artificially inflate the club’s revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million during the affected period’. 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. A redacted version of the commission’s report, published on the Premier League’s website, confirmed the club had been found guilty of all charges except one relating to non-cooperation with the Premier League investigation. Less football on the telly? Read about it instead Our exclusive football newsletter cuts through the noise to deliver analysis and gossip straight to your inbox every week. Sign up now for free. 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 have won eight Premier League titles (Picture: REUTERS) ‘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. Manchester City allegations timeline November 2018: German newspaper Der Spiegel publish claims Manchester City have breached FFP rules March 2019: UEFA launch investigation into the claims May 2019: Manchester City launch an appeal against the investigation November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rules the appeal as inadmissible February 2020: Manchester City are handed a two-year ban from European competition and a €30m fine by UEFA July 2020: The ban is overturned after the club appeal to CAS April 2022: Der Spiegel report the Premier League has been investigating Manchester City for three years February 2023: The Premier League charges the club with 115 breaches of its financial rules September 2024: Start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and Manchester City September 2026: Reports emerge that Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 financial rules the club are accused of breaking ‘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.’ What What punishment could Man City face? Pep Guardiola, who managed Manchester City during the period in question, left the club last summer (Picture: PA) The Premier League does not have set sanctions for financial rule breaches which means City could face a points deduction, a fine, or even expulsion from the top flight. In 2024, Everton were deducted six and then two points for breaching the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. In that same year, Nottingham Forest were deducted four points. In 2020, UEFA banned City from competing in Europe for two seasons for ‘overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts’. City immediately submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and their two-year ban was overturned. CAS also reduced City’s €30 million (£25m) fine to €10m (£8.9m) after finding that ‘most of the alleged breaches reported were either not established or time-barred’. For more stories like this, check our sport page. 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Former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is ‘astonished’ by the sporting injustice (Picture: Getty Images) Mauricio Pochettino has hit out at both Manchester City and the Premier League over the club’s financial scandal, saying: ‘We have lived through a period where sporting justice did not exist.’ Manchester City have been found guilty of a majority of the 115 charges leveled at them for breaking Premier League financial rules. The eight-time Premier League champions were initially charged in February 2023 with breaching financial regulations over nine years from 2009 to 2018. What punishment they will face is as yet unknown and may not become clear for a long time as an appeal process is still to run. Less football on the telly? Read about it instead Our exclusive football newsletter cuts through the noise to deliver analysis and gossip straight to your inbox every week. Sign up now for free. Pochettino, who managed Tottenham from 2014-19, is ‘astonished’ at the lack of a level playing field during that period. The current USA manager is not just fuming with Manchester City for their actions, but also with the Premier League for allowing rules to be broken to such an extent. ‘It’s very difficult when out of 115 charges you are found guilty of 114 to know what the punishment should be to make it fair,’ Pochettino told a press conference. ‘Because there are other clubs like Nottingham Forest or Everton that broke rules and received different sanctions, whether point deductions or fines. Manchester City enjoyed great success with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and manager Pep Guardiola (Picture: Reuters) ‘It’s a very difficult situation that causes astonishment given the magnitude of the verdict. And it’s also fair to ask where the controls were for the rules to be broken like that. That’s what catches my attention the most.’ The Argentine said Manchester City’s achievements may now be considered ‘not real’ and those who have finished below them deserve more credit than they have been given. ‘It’s a very sad situation because what was already achieved and celebrated maybe wasn’t real, and what wasn’t so good could have been better,’ he said. ‘We have lived through a period where sporting justice did not exist. If the charges are proven, it’s very difficult to repair what happened. I hope that at least it serves to ensure equality exists in the future.’ Manchester City allegations timeline November 2018: German newspaper Der Spiegel publish claims Manchester City have breached FFP rules March 2019: UEFA launch investigation into the claims May 2019: Manchester City launch an appeal against the investigation November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rules the appeal as inadmissible February 2020: Manchester City are handed a two-year ban from European competition and a €30m fine by UEFA July 2020: The ban is overturned after the club appeal to CAS April 2022: Der Spiegel report the Premier League has been investigating Manchester City for three years February 2023: The Premier League charges the club with 115 breaches of its financial rules September 2024: Start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and Manchester City September 2026: Reports emerge that Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 financial rules the club are accused of breaking Spurs enjoyed impressive consistency at a high level under Pochettino, finished third, second and third from 2016-18 in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final in 2019. Tottenham did so without the spending power that Manchester City were displaying and he believes that no punishment can repair the injustice of financial rules being broken. ‘That was a big disadvantage because we were fighting among the best teams and reaching a Champions League final,’ he said. ‘Why were those controls so strict with us and not as much with others? Mauricio Pochettino and Harry Kane were challenging for the Premier League title at Tottenham (Picture: Getty Images) ‘That’s why I say everything is very strange, and the problem is that everything gets clouded. If it’s true that they broke 114 rules, we have lived through a period of deceit. No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done, and the Premier League’s controls are severely damaged.’ Pochettino has also pointed out that his Spurs side finished second to Chelsea in 2017, with the Blues having admitted to making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and intermediaries between 2011 and 2018. Chelsea were fined £10m, but avoided a serious sporting punishment after the current ownership self-reported the past breaches. ‘I said at the time regarding Chelsea’s situation when we fought for the title with them while I was at Tottenham, that they were better because they got more points, but by breaking rules. How do you repair that?’ Pochettino asked. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (Picture: Getty) Erling Haaland has been tipped for a sensational transfer move after Manchester City were found guilty of breaching well over 100 Premier League financial rules. Man City, the dominant force in English football over the last decade, were found guilty of 114 of 115 charges by an independent panel. The charges relate to a nine-year period during which City won three Premier League titles, dating from 2009 to 2018. The Premier League has not yet decided on what sanctions the club will face, while Manchester City are preparing to appeal the verdict. Less football on the telly? Read about it instead Our exclusive football newsletter cuts through the noise to deliver analysis and gossip straight to your inbox every week. Sign up now for free. Haaland has developed into one of the best players in the world since his £51m move to the Etihad Stadium in 2022, scoring a staggering 169 goals in 205 appearances. The Norway striker is well on course to surpass Sergio Aguero as Man City’s all-time record goalscorer while Alan Shearer’s Premier League tally of 260 appears to be in danger. Surpassing Shearer would require Haaland to spend a significant portion of the rest of his career at Man City but the future of the 26-year-old and several of his current teammates is uncertain given the charges overhanging the club. Man City have been the dominant force in English football over the past decade (Picture: AP) It has previously been suggested that Manchester City could face a huge points deduction or even be relegated from the Premier League if the charges are upheld. Former Spain midfielder Gaizka Mendieta insists Haaland will be on the move if Man City are removed from the Premier League and Champions League and has backed him to join Barcelona. ‘Erling Haaland’s future is interesting,’ he told Casinolyze. ‘Let’s see how things pan out at Man City and whether the appeal turns out to be successful. Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak (Picture: Reuters) ‘But players like Haaland want to win trophies. I agree that if he moves, which could happen, the price tag will be massive, certainly not below a hundred million. That is just the way it is. ‘In terms of where I see him, I could imagine him at both Real Madrid and Barca. However, I sense that Barca’s style would be better for him, and perhaps better for the club too. ‘The way he makes those runs and his power in the box suits the Hansi Flick style quite well. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘We are talking about something quite far down the line, but if things don’t work out at City this season or over the next couple of seasons, he is still very young and very ambitious. He won’t want to stay at a club where they aren’t winning trophies.’ Earlier this weekend Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak wrote an open letter to supporters urging them to remain confident the club can prove its innocence. ‘I have been part of this Club for 18 years,’ the statement said. ‘I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. Enzo Maresca’s side are currently top of the Premier League (Picture: Getty) ‘This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today. ‘Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. ‘So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began. Manchester City's previous statements Club Statement Friday 25th September 2026 The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.  As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023. 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. Club Statement February 2023 Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with. The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all. ‘There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. ‘Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies. I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true. ‘While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity. ‘We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break.  We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. ‘Thank you, as always, for your constant support.’ Man City are currently top of the Premier League having started the 2026-27 campaign with five successive wins, most recently beating Sunderland 5-3 before the international break. Enzo Maresca’s side return to action following the international break with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. 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Rodri’s comments did not sit well with Roy Keane (Picture: ITV) Roy Keane was not on board with former Manchester City star Rodri after the midfielder insisted the club deserved all its success and it cannot be taken from them. Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges leveled at them for breaking Premier League financial rules. City were initially charged in February 2023 with breaching financial regulations over nine years from 2009 to 2018. What punishment is to come is still unclear, with the club still insisting they are innocent and there is much of the Premier League’s process still to run, including an appeal process. Less football on the telly? Read about it instead Our exclusive football newsletter cuts through the noise to deliver analysis and gossip straight to your inbox every week. Sign up now for free. Rodri, who won four Premier League titles with Manchester City from 2021-24, captained Spain against England at Wembley on Saturday and gave his view on the situation. ‘What we did, they cannot take out of us. It’s something that is not paid by money. It’s paid with effort, with partnership, with, being shoulder-to-shoulder every day,’ he said in a pre-match press conference. ‘We had a lot of success and I can tell you that everything was deserved, and I’m glad that I could live one of the best eras of English football in here. Rodri is still backing his former club, having left for Barcelona in the summer (Picture: Shutterstock) ‘Everyone has to follow the rules, that’s great and they always express the confidence that they never did something wrong, and we believe in that.’ Former Manchester United captain, Keane, did not echo those sentiments and feels Manchester City now need to take their punishment, if indeed the guilty verdict stands. ‘It’s about time. It has obviously been going on a long time now,’ Keane said on ITV. ‘I certainly would disagree with Rodri’s messages there. It was their choice, the club. They chose to cheat. ‘Whatever they have won over the last few years, they deserve to be punished. Where we start and finish with that obviously is difficult but they were cheating. They’ve been found guilty of it and they have to take their medicine now. ‘It was a shock to be found guilty of, is it 114 charges they were found guilty of? Big news.’ Rodri won four Premier League titles on the spin with City (Picture: Reuters) Arsenal legend Ian Wright also had little sympathy for Rodri’s viewpoint and, although he accepts no one can take the experiences away from the Manchester City players, the accolades could be stripped. ‘He’s talking about what he’s done, he went shoulder-to-shoulder with the guys and of course you can’t take that away from them, they experienced that,’ said Wright. ;But they should take it way from them, they should be punished for it. ‘They may be able to experience those memories and great times together, but when you look at the teams that were trying to chase them, who were doing it right, its not right! ‘What have we taken from Liverpool’s legacy? [Jurgen] Klopp and that team. What could they have experienced? ‘They cheated to get it done and people have missed out on that, players have missed out on unbelievable opportunities for themselves. I’m glad we’ve finally got there.’ City won three titles during the period in question (Picture: AP Photo/Dave Thompson) In terms of the most likely punishment for Manchester City, football finance expert Kieran Maguire suggests a points deduction is expected. ‘There is no doubt a points deduction would be the most likely outcome in the view of many,’ Maguire told TalkTV. ‘We have seen points deductions before for Nottingham Forest and Everton for breach of the financial limit rules. So that is feasible. There is a separate issue of whether clubs who have missed out on titles, could they put in for financial compensation for not getting into Europe and loss of prize money.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola as Man City manager over the summer (Photo: Getty) Enzo Maresca issued a cryptic message in his first response to the news that Manchester City have been found guilty of breaking Premier League financial rules. While no official announcement has been made, it was widely reported on Friday that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges against them. The Citizens are expected to appeal the verdict and on Saturday, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak broke his silence with a defiant message to fans. The club now face an agonising wait to see what punishment the Premier League will give them, with possible sanctions ranging from fines and points deductions to expulsion from the top-flight and their trophies taken away from them. Less football on the telly? Read about it instead Our exclusive football newsletter cuts through the noise to deliver analysis and gossip straight to your inbox every week. Sign up now for free. While former City star Rodri has commented on the news, no current player has spoken out, with star striker Erling Haaland pulled out of a Norway press conference at the last minute. Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola in the Etihad dugout over the summer, having previously worked at the club as a youth manager and Guardiola’s assistant. With the season currently on its first international break, official word from the manager or players is not expected for a couple of weeks, but Maresca has broken his silence… sort of. https://www.instagram.com/p/Ddths_PCuGY/?img_index=1 As reported by The Guardian, the Italian was approached for comment and in turn, his representatives sent them a screenshot of a quote by the Greek philosopher Socrates. The quote reads: ‘The only thing I know is that I know nothing.’ Curiously, Maresca had posted the same quote on Instagram on Friday afternoon, shortly before the news surrounding City exploded. Man City's 115 charges in full Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak with Pep Guardiola in 2024 (Reuters) Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information (2009-2018) – 54 charges Failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation (2009-2018) – 14 charges Failure to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including Financial Fair Play Regulations – 5 charges Breaching Premier League Profitability and Sustainability regulations (2015-2018) – 7 charges Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations (2018-2023) – 35 charges Maresca’s post also included a bizarre picture of the manager’s feet, along with the caption: ‘Time to breathe. Time to analyse. Time to learn.’ It is believed that a points deduction is the most likely sanction that Man City will receive, rather than having their titles stripped away, something that may please Andy Robertson. Robertson was part of the Liverpool squad that went up against City at the height of their powers between 2017 and 2024, twice finishing runner-up in the title race. Andy Robertson hopes Man City’s players are not punished (Photo: Getty) The left-back, now playing for Tottenham, could feel he is owed several medals but has stated that he believes City’s players should not be punished for something out of their control. ‘I think you can hear the shock in my voice. The case has obviously been going on,’ the Scotland captain said in a press conference on Friday. ‘For me, the [Man City] players showed they were good enough on the pitch. I don’t know too much about the charges. But they had an incredible team, one that I loved battling against. ‘I don’t think when it comes to these things that players are ever to blame. That’s all I can focus on.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source