Manchester City said on Tuesday it was “disappointed and surprised” by the findings of an independent Premier League commission that found the club guilty of serious financial-rule breaches, and said it would appeal.
The Premier League said the commission had found City guilty of all charges relating to alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018, as well as three of four charges concerning the club’s cooperation with the league’s investigation.
City, which has consistently denied wrongdoing, said the commission’s opinion contained “clear material errors” of law, principle and fact.
“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions,” City said in a statement.
The club said it would pursue all available regulatory and legal avenues and was preparing to appeal the findings.
The long-running case stems from a Premier League investigation launched in 2018 into the club’s financial affairs. The alleged breaches cover nine seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18.
According to the commission’s findings reported by the Premier League, City misrepresented sponsorship revenue and other financial information, with the alleged manipulation affecting more than £900 million of reported finances.
The commission also found that City failed to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation on three of four charges.
No sanction has yet been imposed. City has until Oct. 2 to lodge its appeal, meaning the case is expected to continue.
City also questioned the regulatory process, saying it had respected due process for eight years on the expectation that the Premier League would act as an “independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator”.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted,” the club said.
City added that it was limited in what it could say publicly while further proceedings were pending.
The case is among the most significant financial disputes in English football and could ultimately have implications for the club’s titles and Premier League status, depending on the outcome of the appeals and any eventual sanctions.
