Manchester City Disagrees with EPL's Financial Breach Ruling, Plans to Appeal

Manchester City has rejected the findings of an independent Premier League Commission. The Commission found the club guilty of serious financial rule breaches. City described the opinion as "unsafe" and promised to explore all options for appeal.

The club shared this information in a statement on its website on Tuesday. This came right after the Premier League revealed that the independent Commission found City guilty of all charges regarding major breaches of the league's financial rules over nine seasons.

Manchester City expressed that it was "disappointed and surprised" by the Commission's opinion and insisted it was innocent of the claims.

"Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today," the club stated.

The club continued, "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."

Manchester City said it would keep challenging the findings through the right regulatory and legal channels.

"The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums," it added.

The club noted that the Premier League process was not yet finished. They confirmed that they would pursue all available appeal options.

"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 explained.

According to the Premier League, the Commission found that City breached financial rules between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. This included arrangements described as "sham" commercial agreements.

The Premier League stated that the Commission found these schemes artificially inflated City’s revenues and cut its costs by over £900 million during that time.

But City claims it has followed the process properly throughout the proceedings. The club questioned the independence of the Premier League's regulatory process.

"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 said.

Manchester City mentioned that it is limited in what it can share publicly while the remaining proceedings are ongoing.

"The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete," it added.

The Premier League stated on Tuesday that City has the right to appeal the Commission’s findings. They have until Friday, October 2, to exercise that right.

The League also said that the matter of sanctions will be discussed separately at another hearing before the independent Commission.

This sanction hearing will remain private and confidential until it can be published under the League's rules.

The Premier League began its investigation into Manchester City in December 2018. A formal complaint was issued in February 2023. The independent Commission held a 42-day hearing, which ended in December 2024.