Manchester City has filed an appeal against an independent commission ruling that found the club guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. The club is seeking to overturn the verdict and avoid potentially severe sanctions. The Premier League said City had used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by over £900 million ($1.19 billion) over nearly a decade.
The independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the league's financial rules over nine seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club was also found guilty of three out of four charges concerning failures to cooperate with the investigation. Manchester City has denied wrongdoing throughout the process. The club had until the end of the day on Friday to appeal and lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission on Thursday, 1st October 2026.
The appeal will be heard by an independent three-member board appointed by the chair of the league's judicial panel. The board will review the commission's decision but will not conduct a full rehearing of the case. The appeal will take place in private, as did the original hearings. Manchester City's appeal is expected to be heard within 12 weeks of being lodged, with a decision due within 30 days of the hearing concluding.
Manchester City's potential sanctions include heavy fines, points deductions, and other sporting penalties. Relegation or the removal of titles are also discussed as possible outcomes, which could have consequences across the league. The club's statement said it is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and that a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of its positions.
The Premier League's new fast-track rules state that an appeal hearing should be held within 12 weeks of an appeal being lodged. Some legal commentators expect City to argue that those rules did not exist when the club was originally charged in February 2023. The board can dismiss the appeal, allow it, refer the case back to the commission for further consideration, or alter any sanction or compensation order imposed.
A decision by the appeal board is final and cannot be challenged further, except in limited circumstances that permit a subsequent arbitration process. Manchester City can also separately appeal against any sanctions. It remains unclear whether sanctions will be announced before the appeal is heard and whether they would take effect immediately.
The fate of the case remains unresolved as the season continues, with leaders City looking for their sixth straight league win. A league representative told Reuters they could not discuss the process for confidentiality reasons. The club's appeal will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted.
Key points
- Manchester City faces potential sanctions including heavy fines and points deductions.
- The appeal will be heard by an independent three-member board.
- A decision by the appeal board is final and cannot be challenged further.
