Manchester City, the English football giants, have been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, stretching over a period of nine years. The breaches amount to over £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018. The allegations include fiddling with their accounts using "sham" sponsorship contracts. This case began nearly eight years ago, and the verdict was delivered in September 2026.
The allegations against Manchester City first surfaced in November 2018, when German publication Der Spiegel alleged that the club attempted to bypass UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules. The publication claimed that City allowed their Abu Dhabi-based sponsors to make backdated cash injections. City responded by stating that the claims came from an "illegal hack" and that the publication of internal club emails was part of an "organised and clear attempt" to smear their reputation.
Following the allegations published in Der Spiegel, both UEFA and the Premier League opened investigations into potential breaches of Financial Fair Play. In May 2019, City became the first English side to win a domestic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup. However, in February 2020, UEFA banned City from European competitions for two seasons and fined them 30 million euros after finding them guilty of committing "serious breaches" of FFP regulations.
Manchester City immediately appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In July 2020, City successfully overturned the two-year ban, and their fine was reduced to 10 million euros. The CAS found that most of the alleged breaches reported were either not established or time-barred. However, a significant fine was still imposed due to City's failure to cooperate with the investigation.
In February 2023, after a four-year investigation, the Premier League referred City to an independent commission over more than 100 alleged breaches of finance rules. The alleged breaches include failure to provide accurate financial information, FFP breaches, breaches of profitability and sustainability, and failure to co-operate with investigations and regulations. City denied any wrongdoing, claiming to have a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position".
Despite the ongoing investigations, Manchester City continued to achieve success on the pitch. In June 2023, they became only the second English club to win a treble of the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. They lifted the coveted European trophy for the first time in the club's history after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the Istanbul final. In May 2024, City became the first side to ever win four consecutive Premier League titles.
The hearing in front of an independent commission began in September 2024, and the tribunal came to an end in December 2024. The panel retired to consider their verdict, which was delivered in September 2026. The verdict found City guilty on all charges related to serious breaches of the financial rules and all but one in relation to their failure to co-operate with the league's investigation. City announced their intention to appeal the decision.
Key points
- Manchester City found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules
- Breaches amount to over £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018
- City's manager, Pep Guardiola, steps down after 10 years and 20 trophies as manager in May 2026
