City ‘guilty’ of all but one financial rule breaches

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The club were charged in February 2023 with more than 100 breaches of league rules, charges which City strenuously denied.

Now it is being reported that City have been found guilty on almost all but one of the 115 charges by an independent commission. City are said to be appealing the decision.

The Athletic said sanctions were undecided at this stage.

The Premier League declined to comment.

A City spokesperson said: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

City were referred to the commission in February 2023, at a time when they were en route to the third of four consecutive Premier League titles.

The investigation which ultimately resulted in more than 100 charges being laid started back in 2018.

City had been charged with failing to report accurate financial information for nine seasons stretching from 2009-10 to 2017-18, as well as failing to provide full details of former manager Roberto Mancini’s pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13.

They were also charged with failing to provide full details of remuneration in contracts with players between 2010-11 and 2015-16, and with failing to co-operate with the investigation over a period from 2018 to 2023.

The club said at the time the charges were laid that they welcomed the opportunity for a commission “to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of our position.”

Four months after the charge was issued, the club won the Champions League for the first time in their history.

The commission hearing began on September 16 2024.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham warned people should not “jump to conclusions” on City, when asked whether they should be stripped of their Premier League titles.

He told ITV Granada Reports: “I’ve only just been made aware of it – I think these are reports at this stage. But if they’re confirmed, obviously I will want to look at the report of the independent commission.

“People shouldn’t jump to those kind of conclusions (about City having their titles taken off them). I know, this has been a long process between the club and the Premier League. I think quite a contested process. So I don’t think it’s as simple as jumping to conclusions.

“I think we would all need to study the independent commission’s report in some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions.”

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