Manchester City have confirmed they will appeal after being found guilty of all charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules.
The independent commission found that Man City arranged ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors between 2009 and 2018, which were part of a disguised funding scheme, whereby those companies were only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The league said that now the charges have been proved, the issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing with the independent commission.
The club has the right to appeal the independent commission’s findings and October 2 to exercise that right.
City have responded, insisting they will fight the charges “on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe”.
A statement read: “Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.
“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, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.”
The statement continued, alleging a miscarriage of justice in the panel’s hearing: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.
“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.
“The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”
On top of their breaches of financial regulation, City are also accused of obstructing the Premier League’s investigation. They were only found not guilty on one of the 115 charges, which was a minor charge relating to obstruction of the investigation.
