Independent Commission Finds Manchester City Guilty of Nine-Year Financial Breaches

An independent commission has ruled that Manchester City committed systematic breaches of Premier League financial rules between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, finding the club arranged "sham" contracts with commercial partners to artificially inflate revenues. According to the Premier League's statement on September 29, 2026, the commission determined that Manchester City created a disguised funding scheme whereby sponsorship companies paid only a portion of agreed fees, with the remainder funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), the club's owner. Additional sham arrangements enabled the club to record artificially lower operating expenses and involved a circular transaction with Fordham, an entity that purchased player image rights. The commission concluded these schemes inflated revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million during the nine-year period, allowing the club to appear compliant with financial regulations while significantly breaching both Premier League and UEFA spending limits.

The commission also found that Manchester City filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from auditors and regulators. Regarding cooperation with the investigation, the commission upheld three of four alleged breaches, concluding the club "made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate" the Premier League investigation over its four-year duration. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters stated that "the club systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade" and called the case "the most significant in Premier League history."

Manchester City has denied all wrongdoing. In a statement issued on September 29, the club said it is "innocent of the accusations" and possesses "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" supporting its positions. The club announced it will pursue all available appeal avenues, asserting that the commission's opinion contains "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe." Manchester City has until October 2, 2026, to formally submit its appeal. The club claimed it has "diligently respected due process for eight years" based on the expectation that the Premier League would act as an independent regulator.

The ruling leaves significant procedural steps outstanding. The Premier League has stated that sanctions—which could include points deductions, fines, transfer bans, or expulsion—will be addressed in a further hearing with the independent commission. The league has committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the disciplinary process. The verdict has prompted broader discussion about potential consequences, including questions about the club's future status in the league and implications for its players.