UAE-owned Manchester City found guilty of financial rules breach, report says

Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 09/26/2026 - 01:50 The club is looking at points deduction serious enough to relegate them, or even expulsion from the Premier League in the worst-case scenario

Under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour, City have become the dominant force in English soccer. (AFP) Off

The UAE-owned Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 financial charges it faces for breaching financial rules, the Athletic reported, an outcome that could send shockwaves through English soccer and potentially sour UAE-UK relations.

City was charged by the Premier League in 2023 following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.

It was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of financial sustainability rules.

According to the Athletic, no sanction had yet been decided and City is set to appeal. But the BBC reported that the punishment decided by the panel will be released before any appeal is completed.

If found guilty, City are looking at a points deduction serious enough to relegate them, large fines or, in the worst-case scenario, even expulsion from the Premier League.

The club won three Premier League titles, three League Cups and the FA Cup during the time in question, which ran up to 2017-18.

On Friday, the Athletic reported that Premier League clubs are planning legal action and several teams have mobilised leading lawyers to ascertain what they may be eligible to claim for, and a number of clubs are talking to each other about this.

Legal firms have been contacting clubs to inform them that they would be in a position to claim compensation if Manchester City are found to have breached the Premier League’s rules, the report said.

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The club is owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and vice president of the UAE, who bought the club in September 2008 for around £200 million.

Under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour, City have become the dominant force in English soccer.

It has won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one Champions League in the past 15 years.

Investigations into Manchester City’s financial breaches came after leaked documents published by German outlet Der Spiegel back in 2018.

Emails purportedly exchanged between top City executives showed the club had inflated sponsorship revenue from Abu Dhabi state-controlled airline Etihad and telecoms firm Etisalat by disguising direct investment from Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group as income.

‘Could damage UAE-UK relations’

Bloomberg reported last month that UAE officials cautioned that a negative outcome could damage improved relations with the UK.

Manchester City has evolved into the flagship investment since being taken over in 2008 by Sheikh Mansour, both in the UK and UAE.

Branded Manchester City residences are being developed in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by a Manchester City Training Academy featuring a “Match Day Terrace” for fans to watch matches on a big screen.

UK criticises Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour for meeting Syrian president Read More »

Additionally, a dedicated Manchester City retail store is located on Yas Island.

The UAE had also invested billions of dollars into rejuvenating a downtrodden part of Manchester, with joint ventures in social housing and improvements to sports facilities.

Burnham was Manchester mayor for nine years before taking over as British prime minister last month.

Sheikh Mansour’s private investment vehicle, Abu Dhabi United Group, is a prominent investor in urban regeneration.

During his tenure as Manchester mayor, Burnham praised Manchester City’s owners and the funding they have put into the east of the city.

Burnham held his first phone call with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mansour’s brother, in late July, as he seeks to broaden the UK’s investment appeal to wealthy allies like the UAE.

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