Manchester City has been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period. An independent Commission discovered that the club used "sham" commercial agreements to artificially inflate its revenues and reduce costs by over £900m. The breaches occurred between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. The Premier League announced the findings on September 29, 2026, after publishing a redacted version of the Commission's Core Decision.
The Commission found that Manchester City arranged "sham" contracts with commercial partners and relied on "sham" agreements with others to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs. The club filed misstated accounts and concealed its true financial state from auditors and football regulators. City was significantly in breach of both Premier League and UEFA spending limits. The Premier League stated that the club's arrangements with some sponsors formed part of a disguised funding scheme.
The disguised funding scheme involved Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd, which owned the club. The purpose of the scheme was to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by over £900m. The Commission concluded that Manchester City clearly intended to circumvent Premier League rules. The club failed to accurately report income and expenditure for Profitability and Sustainability Rules and UEFA's Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Rules.
The Commission found Manchester City guilty of breaches relating to its conduct during the Premier League's four-year investigation. The club committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith. Three of the four alleged breaches were upheld, and the Commission concluded that City made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the investigation. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters described the ruling as a landmark decision.
Masters stated that the core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during the period in question. He added that it vindicates the Premier League's decision to pursue the case against the club. The League has a responsibility to enforce rules approved by the clubs themselves, and Masters emphasized that it is paramount to protect the integrity of the competition.
The Premier League said the issue of sanctions would be dealt with separately at a further hearing before the independent Commission. The Commission's available sanctions include fines, points deductions, and other sporting sanctions. Manchester City has the right to appeal the Commission's findings and must decide whether to exercise that right by October 2. The Premier League's Board intends to conclude the entire process, including appeals and publication of relevant decisions, as soon as possible.
The Premier League began its investigation into Manchester City in December 2018, and a formal complaint was issued in February 2023. The independent Commission held a 42-day hearing, which concluded in December 2024. The Commission's decision took longer than expected due to the volume of evidence. The Premier League has published only a redacted version of the Commission's Core Decision at this stage.
Key points
- Manchester City faces potential sanctions, including fines, points deductions, and other sporting sanctions.
- The club used "sham" commercial agreements to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by over £900m.
- The Premier League's investigation into Manchester City began in December 2018.
