Manchester City to appeal Premier League financial breach verdict

Manchester City has announced its intention to challenge the ruling issued by the Premier League’s Independent Commission, which found the club guilty of violating financial regulations. The decision stems from a hearing regarding 115 charges of serious financial breaches alleged between 2009 and 2018.

Club maintains innocence despite findings

In a statement, the Abu Dhabi-owned club expressed disappointment and surprise at the verdict, reiterating its position that it is innocent of all accusations. Manchester City asserted that it possesses comprehensive evidence supporting its stance across every point of the case.

"The Club is innocent of the charges brought against it by the Premier League, and there is a comprehensive body of evidence that supports its position on all points in this case," the statement read. The commission had previously determined that the club’s owners artificially inflated commercial revenue by £830 million ($1.1 billion) during the period under investigation.

Appeal process and sanctions timeline

The club confirmed it will utilize all available regulatory and legal avenues to contest the decision. An October 2 deadline has been set for the formal submission of the appeal.

This current ruling does not conclude the matter, as potential sanctions are scheduled to be deliberated in a separate session. The legal proceedings originated in February 2023, when the Premier League formally charged Manchester City with breaching financial rules over the nine-year span from 2009 to 2018. The Independent Commission ultimately convicted the club on the vast majority of the investigated items.