SoccerSep 30
Manchester City face appeal and sanctions after financial guilty verdict
An independent commission found City concealed owner funding through commercial deals, leaving the club facing potential sporting penalties and compensation claims.
By OddsListing wire desk
· 2 min read
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Commission finds financial breaches
Manchester City face a major legal and sporting battle after a Premier League independent commission found the club guilty of financial misconduct involving inflated revenue, understated costs and concealed payments. The findings cover sponsorship arrangements, player image-rights transactions and payments outside the club’s accounts. The commission also found City guilty of false accounting, failing to cooperate with investigators and breaching their obligation to act in good faith. At the centre of the case were funds supplied by owner Abu Dhabi United Group that were presented as commercial income. Between 2009-10 and 2017-18, City reported £949.94 million in revenue from Abu Dhabi sponsors, while the sponsors themselves paid £119.25m.
City maintain innocence
Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has maintained the club’s position that it can establish its innocence. City have until Friday to appeal, although the process does not permit new evidence. The club argued that sponsors sometimes received financial assistance from the Abu Dhabi government to cover their commitments. The commission rejected that explanation, finding it had been developed retrospectively to conceal the funding arrangements. Its findings also addressed an additional consultancy contract for former manager Roberto Mancini and an owner-funded company used to acquire players’ image rights at inflated values.
Penalties and further claims loom
The commission’s sanctions remain pending. Possible punishments include relegation, removal of titles, transfer restrictions and substantial fines; none has yet been confirmed. A separate independent panel would hear an appeal, with sanctions remaining unenforced until that process concludes. The timetable remains uncertain. City could also face claims beyond the disciplinary proceedings. Several Premier League clubs have filed legal documents preserving their ability to seek compensation, adding another potential financial consequence to a case that could reshape the club’s future.
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