Manchester City has announced its intention to appeal the Premier League's decision that found the club guilty of breaching financial regulations. The club expressed disappointment and surprise regarding the Premier League's ruling on financial norm violations between 2009 and 2018.
In an official statement, the club reported that 'Manchester City FC will now use the available appeal channels, based on the opinion containing clear material, legal, principled, and factual errors, and being unsafe.'
The Premier League announced on Tuesday that Manchester City was found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules over nine seasons, covering the period from 2009 to 2018. It was established that the club organized fictitious contracts with several commercial partners to artificially inflate revenues, which allowed it to conceal its true financial status and avoid exceeding the spending limits set by the Premier League and UEFA.
The independent commission also found the club guilty on most charges related to the club's unwillingness to cooperate with the league's investigation. Currently, no sanctions have been imposed, and City confirmed its position on filing an appeal.
Premier League Chairman Richard Masters stated in his announcement: 'The main decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically violated Premier League rules for almost a decade.'
He added that after receiving the commission's decision, they are ready to promptly complete the remaining part of the process to ensure clarity for the league, clubs, and fans.
Since the club's acquisition in 2008 by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, City has become a dominant force in the Premier League. Over the last fifteen years, the team has won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and seven League Cups, and won the Champions League for the first time in 2023.
However, in the same year, the Premier League began an investigation into alleged rule violations. The hearings of the independent commission started in September 2024 and concluded three months later.