Manchester City, one of the world's current football powerhouses, has been found guilty of 114 out of 115 Premier League charges for breaching financial regulations. According to a report by The Athletic, the club employed various measures to bypass Premier League spending rules. The charges against the 10-time English champions include funnelling over $1.2 billion through "sham" sponsorship deals over nine seasons.
The Premier League judgement revealed that Manchester City funnelled more than 900 million pounds ($1.2 billion) over nine seasons from "sham" sponsorship deals to circumvent rules governing how much Premier League clubs can spend. Additionally, the club paid their then-manager Roberto Mancini through a secret agreement with Al Jazira, City's sister club in Abu Dhabi. Mancini received nearly 9 million pounds in total, which was not declared to the Premier League.
The judgement also ruled that the controlling Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) paid "significant sums to a player that were not recorded in (his) contract with the club", concealing the true extent of the club's liabilities for remuneration. ADUG covered the extra payments to the tune of 7.4 million pounds, with the system operated "with the knowledge and approval" of individuals connected to the club.
Manchester City was accused of persistently refusing to cooperate with Premier League investigators, with the judgement stating that the club "made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the PL investigation". The club's senior staff refused to cooperate with investigators for years, adding to the severity of the charges against them.
Speculation is rife about the possible sanctions Manchester City could face, with several theories emerging in the media. The club could face a points deduction so large that they will effectively be relegated from the Premier League this season, or a points deduction spread over several seasons to hinder their ability to bounce back.
Other possible sanctions include being stripped of the three Premier League titles they won during the period in question, facing a substantial fine, or having a series of clubs take legal action against them for loss of earnings during the period they contravened the rules. The Abu Dhabi owners could also walk away from the club, a possibility hinted at by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The severity of the judgement and the numerous charges against Manchester City suggest that the punishment will match the severity of the judgement. The club's reputation and future in the Premier League hang in the balance as they await the official announcement of their punishment.
Key points
- Manchester City found guilty of 114 out of 115 Premier League charges for breaching financial regulations
- Club could face severe sanctions, including points deduction, fine, or loss of titles
- Abu Dhabi owners could walk away from the club as a result of the judgement
