Manchester City charged by Premier League over alleged financial rule breaches

Following a four-year investigation the Premier League has charged Manchester City with more than 100 breaches of its financial rules.

It has referred the club to an independent commission over alleged rule breaches between 2009 and 2018. The independent commission which will consider the charges could recommend that City be expelled from competition, suspended or docked points if it finds the club guilty. 

City, who were acquired by City Football Group in 2008, are also charged with failing to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation, which was launched in December 2018.

City are alleged to have breached rules relating to the provision of accurate financial information, "in particular with respect to its revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs", the league said.

The club, who have won the Premier League title six times since the Abu Dhabi takeover.

The charges stem from a Premier League investigation into City's financial dealings launched four years ago, after the release of a tranche of "Football Leaks" documents obtained by the German publication Der Spiegel.

City were subsequently banned from the Champions League by European governing body UEFA for two years, but successfully appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which overturned the ban in 2020. The club were fined 30 million euros ($32.28 million) by UEFA, which CAS reduced to 10 million euros.

A club statement on Monday (6 February) said: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with. The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel, and the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.

To read the Premier League's statement please click here.