Manchester City has been found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules during the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons. An independent commission discovered that the club used "sham" commercial arrangements to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by over £900 million. The commission also found that City filed misstated accounts and concealed its true financial state from auditors and regulators.
Pep Guardiola has publicly backed Manchester City following the guilty verdict. In a statement, Guardiola did not directly address the individual findings but expressed his support for the club and its people. Guardiola spent 10 years at Manchester City, leading the team to multiple domestic trophies and transforming it into a dominant force in English and European football.
The independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching Premier League and UEFA spending limits. The club was also found to have made "concerted efforts to stop and frustrate" the investigation. Manchester City has rejected the findings, describing itself as "disappointed and surprised" and maintaining that it is innocent of the accusations.
Manchester City has until October 2, 2026, to appeal the independent commission's findings. If the club appeals, the case will be handled under the Premier League's disciplinary process. The issue of sanctions will be dealt with separately, with possible penalties including fines, points deductions, and other sporting penalties.
The Premier League has confirmed that a further hearing before the independent commission will determine the punishment for Manchester City. The league intends to move through the remaining stages of the process as quickly as possible. The case has been years in the making, with the Premier League beginning its investigation in December 2018.
Guardiola's message comes at a crucial moment for the club, with attention now shifting to the next stages of the process. Manchester City must decide whether to formally appeal, while the Premier League prepares for the separate sanctions hearing. Guardiola has chosen to publicly stand with his former club as that process unfolds.
The guilty verdict represents a major development in one of the most closely watched disciplinary cases in English football. Manchester City chairman has also addressed the club's players and staff, describing the Premier League's case as a "Premier League conspiracy theory." The club has argued that the commission's opinion contains material errors of law, principle, and fact.
Key points
- Manchester City found guilty of serious Premier League financial breaches
- Pep Guardiola publicly backs Manchester City amid guilty verdict
- Club plans to appeal, with possible sanctions to be determined separately
