Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules across a nine-season period in one of the most consequential disciplinary decisions in English football history.
The Premier League announced on September 29, 2026 that an independent Commission had found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious financial-rule breaches between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.
The Commission also upheld the majority of the charges relating to the club's failure to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation.
However, the case is not over. No punishment has yet been imposed, Manchester City maintain their innocence, and the club has confirmed that it intends to challenge the findings through the available appeal process.
Manchester City Financial Case: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Club | Manchester City FC |
| Decision announced | September 29, 2026 |
| Decision | Independent Commission found serious financial-rule breaches proved |
| Affected seasons | 2009/10 to 2017/18 |
| Financial impact identified by Commission | More than £900 million |
| Sanction | Not yet decided |
| Manchester City's position | Denies wrongdoing and intends to appeal |
| Appeal deadline | October 2, 2026 |
What Did the Premier League Announce About Manchester City?
According to the Premier League's official statement, the independent Commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the competition's financial rules during the nine seasons between 2009/10 and 2017/18.
The Commission also upheld three of the four alleged breaches concerning Manchester City's duties of cooperation and utmost good faith during the Premier League investigation.
The findings represent a major development in a case that has been hanging over Manchester City and English football for several years.
Commission Finds Manchester City Used 'Sham' Contracts
Among the most significant findings was the Commission's conclusion that Manchester City arranged what it described as "sham" contracts with several commercial partners.
In this context, the Commission used the term to describe contracts that misrepresented the true agreements between the relevant parties.
According to the Premier League's published summary, these arrangements were used to make Manchester City's commercial revenues appear higher and its costs lower than they actually were.
More Than £900 Million in Revenue and Cost Adjustments
The scale identified in the Commission's findings is particularly significant.
The Premier League said the schemes were found to have artificially inflated Manchester City's revenues and reduced its costs by more than £900 million during the affected period.
The Commission concluded that the purpose was to make Manchester City's financial position appear compliant with applicable financial rules.
What Did the Commission Say About Sponsorship Deals?
The Commission found that several commercial arrangements formed part of what it described as a disguised funding scheme.
Under those arrangements, commercial partners were required to fund only part of the sponsorship fees recorded by Manchester City.
The Commission found that the remaining amounts were funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The findings also referred to other arrangements that reduced the operating expenses recorded by Manchester City.
Commission Examines Manchester City's Image Rights Arrangement
The published findings also address an arrangement involving Fordham, an entity that purchased Manchester City players' image rights.
According to the Commission's findings as summarised by the Premier League, the arrangement was part of a circular structure funded by ADUG that allowed the club to record lower operating expenses.
Manchester City's Accounts Were Misstated, Commission Finds
The independent Commission concluded that Manchester City filed misstated accounts and concealed the true position of its finances from auditors and football regulators.
This finding was central to the case because clubs are required to provide accurate financial information so that regulators can determine whether they are complying with financial-control rules.
Premier League and UEFA Spending Limits
The Commission also found that Manchester City was significantly in breach of both Premier League and UEFA spending limits during the relevant period.
According to the Premier League, if the relevant agreements had been accurately reflected in Manchester City's accounts, the club would have exceeded the applicable spending limits by a substantial amount.
Commission Says City Intended to Circumvent Premier League Rules
One of the strongest conclusions contained in the Premier League's published statement concerns Manchester City's intentions in relation to the financial arrangements.
The Commission concluded that Manchester City's conduct demonstrated an intention to circumvent Premier League rules.
That conclusion forms part of the Commission's core findings, but Manchester City strongly dispute the overall decision and maintain that they are innocent of the accusations.
Manchester City Also Found in Breach of Cooperation Duties
The financial allegations were not the only part of the case.
The Premier League's investigation lasted approximately four years, and Manchester City faced allegations concerning their obligations to cooperate with that process.
Three of the four alleged breaches concerning cooperation and utmost good faith were upheld by the Commission.
The Commission concluded that Manchester City had made efforts to frustrate the Premier League's investigation.
How Did the Manchester City Investigation Begin?
The Premier League began investigating Manchester City in December 2018.
After several years of investigation, the Premier League issued its formal complaint and referred the case to an independent Commission in February 2023.
The case subsequently became one of the most closely watched regulatory proceedings in world football.
Independent Hearing Lasted 42 Days
The independent Commission conducted a substantial hearing that lasted 42 days and concluded in December 2024.
According to the Commission, the evidence included approximately 7,000 pages of witness and expert transcripts, alongside extensive written submissions from the parties.
The complexity and volume of that material contributed to the lengthy period between the end of the hearing and publication of the decision.
Richard Masters Calls Case the Most Significant in Premier League History
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters described the disciplinary case and decision as the most significant in the competition's history.
Masters said the core decision establishes what the independent Commission found occurred during the period and stressed the Premier League's responsibility to enforce rules approved by its member clubs.
He also said the League intends to move through the remaining stages of the process as quickly as possible.
Has Manchester City Been Punished?
No sanction has yet been decided.
This distinction is crucial when discussing the verdict.
The Commission's published core decision deals with whether the alleged rule breaches were established. The question of what punishment, if any, should follow will be considered separately.
The Premier League says a further hearing before the independent Commission will address sanctions.
What Punishments Could Manchester City Face?
Premier League rules give an independent Commission broad discretion when deciding sanctions.
The League's official statement notes that the available measures include financial penalties, points deductions and other sporting sanctions.
However, it is important not to treat any particular punishment as confirmed. The Commission has not yet announced Manchester City's sanction.
Manchester City Respond to the Verdict
Manchester City have strongly rejected the Commission's findings.
In an official club statement published following the decision, City said they were "disappointed and surprised" by the Commission's opinion.
The club continues to maintain that it is innocent and says it possesses evidence supporting its position.
Manchester City also argue that the Commission's decision contains what the club describes as material errors of law, principle and fact.
Manchester City Confirm Appeal Plans
Manchester City have indicated that they will pursue the appeal avenues available to them.
The Premier League's statement says the club has until Friday, October 2, 2026 to exercise its right to appeal the Commission's findings.
That means the September 29 decision should not be treated as the end of the disciplinary process.
Why Manchester City's Appeal Matters
An appeal could challenge parts or all of the Commission's findings.
Under Premier League rules, an Appeal Board has broad powers. It can dismiss an appeal, allow it or make other orders, including varying an order made by the Commission.
Until that process and the separate sanctions stage are complete, the ultimate consequences for Manchester City remain unresolved.
What Happens Next in the Manchester City Case?
- Manchester City can formally appeal the Commission's findings.
- An Appeal Board can consider challenges to the decision.
- The issue of sanctions will be addressed separately.
- The sanctions hearing will remain private while proceedings continue.
- Further decisions can be published when permitted under Premier League rules.
The Premier League says it wants the complete process, including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions, concluded as quickly as possible.
Why This Decision Is So Significant
The case reaches far beyond an ordinary financial-rule violation.
It concerns financial reporting across nine seasons during an era in which Manchester City transformed into one of the dominant clubs in English and European football.
The Commission's findings cover sponsorship revenue, operating expenses, financial accounts, spending controls and cooperation with the League's investigation.
That combination explains why the Premier League itself has characterised the disciplinary case as unprecedented in its significance.
What Does the Verdict Mean for Manchester City's Past Trophies?
At present, the published decision does not announce any change to Manchester City's historical trophies.
Speculation about retrospective sporting consequences should therefore not be presented as a confirmed outcome.
The sanctions process remains separate, and the Commission has yet to announce what consequences will follow if its findings remain in place after the appeals process.
Manchester City Financial Case Is Not Over Yet
The September 29 announcement is unquestionably a landmark development, but it is not the final stage of the Manchester City case.
The independent Commission has found serious financial-rule breaches proved and has upheld most of the cooperation allegations.
Manchester City, however, categorically reject the findings and intend to challenge them.
The focus will now shift to Manchester City's appeal and, ultimately, the separate process that will determine what sanctions, if any, are imposed.
