Manchester City found guilty on 114 of 115 charges of financial violations in Premier League
The English club was found liable for nearly all of the charges it faced regarding alleged financial violations. The penalty has not yet been determined, and the team is preparing an appeal.
Etihad Stadium, home of Manchester City. File photo
Manchester City was found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges it faced in the Premier League for alleged violations of financial regulations, according to a report by The Athletic on Friday.
AFP noted that no sanctions have yet been decided and that the club plans to appeal.
The outcome stems from an independent hearing that began more than two years ago and could have significant consequences for English soccer. The case dates back to an investigation into alleged violations committed by the club between 2009 and 2018.
The Premier League filed charges against Man City in 2023. The club was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information, including details regarding payments to players and coaches, as well as alleged breaches of financial sustainability rules. Manchester City has denied the allegations.
A case dating back to 2018
The suspicions that gave rise to the case stemmed from documents leaked and published by the German media outlet Der Spiegel in 2018.
Among the documents released were emails that, according to the allegations, showed that the club had inflated revenue from sponsorship agreements with Etihad, the state-owned airline of Abu Dhabi, and Etisalat, a telecommunications company.
Other documents pointed to alleged undeclared payments to the team's then-coach, Roberto Mancini, in the form of consulting fees linked to a club in Abu Dhabi.
A potential impact on City's most successful era
Since the Abu Dhabi United Group, linked to Sheikh Mansour, acquired Manchester City in 2008, the club has become one of the leading forces in English soccer.
Over the past 15 years, City has won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League title.
The ruling casts doubt on the legacy of that period, as the allegations claim that part of that sporting success was linked to alleged financial irregularities.
The penalty is still pending
In the 2023–24 season, Everton and Nottingham Forest received point deductions for violations related to profit rules and financial sustainability.
The outcome could also raise questions about the future of the Manchester City roster, which includes forward Erling Haaland.
In addition, other clubs could file claims regarding titles won during the period under investigation if they believe City gained a competitive advantage through financial violations. Any such consequences will depend on the decisions subsequently made by the relevant authorities.
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