Manchester City have been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules spanning nine seasons.
From the 2009/10 season to the 2017/18 campaign, the reigning Premier League champions are alleged to have breached league rules requiring provision “in utmost good faith” of “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”. City, owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, are also accused of not cooperating with the league’s investigation which has been conducted over four years.
It’s an unprecedented situation and scale of breaches and, if found guilty, they could face anything from a significant points deduction and/or heavy fine to expulsion from the Premier League. Under league rules City cannot appeal any sanction to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
City were banned from UEFA competitions for two years by European football’s governing body for alleged breaches of its FFP regulations in February 2020, but the sanction was overturned by CAS in July of the same year.
Bristol City host Manchester City in an FA Cup fifth round tie at Ashton Gate on February 28 with tickets for the game going on sale to season ticket holders on Monday. The final campaign of the investigation in question, 2017/18, was when the Robins were eliminated by Pep Guardiola's side in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
"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," read a club statement.
"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 league says the accurate financial information required is related to “revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs”.
The second set of breaches listed refers to alleged breaking of rules “requiring a member club to include full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts with its manager” related to seasons 2009/10 to 2012/13 inclusive. The club’s manager between December 2009 and May 2013 was current Italy boss Roberto Mancini.
The second set of alleged breaches also refers to requirements for a club to include full details of player remuneration within the relevant contracts, for the seasons 2010/11 to 2015/16 inclusive.
The third section deals with alleged breaches of Premier League rules requiring clubs to comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, between 2013/14 to 2017/18.
The fourth set of alleged breaches relates to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules in seasons 2015/16 to 2017/18 inclusive.
Finally, the club are alleged to have breached league rules requiring member clubs to cooperate with and assist the Premier League with its investigations, from December 2018 to date.
The Premier League statement concluded: “The proceedings before 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.
“This confirmation is made in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice.”
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