Manchester City’s long-running financial case has reached a reported verdict after years of investigation and hearings, with the club reportedly found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League.
Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules stretching over nine years.
The English giants stand accused of fiddling with their accounts using “sham” sponsorship contracts by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018.
AFP Sport looks at how the case, which began nearly eight years ago, reached this point:
November 2018
German publication Der Spiegel alleges City attempted to bypass UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules by allowing their Abu Dhabi-based sponsors to make backdated cash injections.
City hit back, saying the claims came from an “illegal hack” and the publication of internal club emails is part of an “organised and clear attempt” to smear their reputation.
March 2019
On the back of the allegations published in Der Spiegel, both UEFA and the Premier League open investigations into potential breaches of FFP.
May 2019
City become the first English side to win a domestic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
February 2020
UEFA bans City from European competitions for two seasons and fines the English champions 30 million euros after they are found to have committed “serious breaches” of FFP regulations.
An independent adjudicatory panel found City overstated their sponsorship revenue in their accounts submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.
City immediately announced the club’s intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
July 2020
City successfully overturned the two-year ban and had their fine reduced to 10 million euros.
CAS finds that most of the alleged breaches reported were either not established or time-barred. However, a significant fine is still imposed on account of City’s failure to cooperate with the investigation.
February 2023
After a four-year investigation, the Premier League refers City to an independent commission over more than 100 alleged breaches of finance rules.
Among the alleged breaches are a failure to provide accurate financial information, FFP breaches, breaches of profitability and sustainability and failure to co-operate with investigations and regulations.
The club deny any wrongdoing and claims to have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position”.
Manager Pep Guardiola says the club have already been “condemned” but vows to stay as City fight to clear their name.
June 2023
City become only the second ever English club to win a treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. They lift the coveted European trophy for the first time in the club’s history after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in the Istanbul final.
November 2023
Everton become the first Premier League team to be deducted points for breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Initially docked 10 points, the Merseyside club had the sanction reduced to six on appeal.
Everton are hit with a further two-point deduction for a further breach in the 2022/23 season, while Nottingham Forest lose four points for breaching the rules in the same campaign.
May 2024
City become the first side to ever win four consecutive Premier League titles.
September 2024
The hearing in front of an independent commission begins in central London.
December 2024
The tribunal comes to an end with the panel retiring to consider their verdict.
May 2026
Guardiola steps down after 10 years and 20 trophies as manager.
September 2026
Verdict finds City guilty on all charges related to serious breaches of the financial rules and all but one in relation to their failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation. City announced their intention to appeal.
AFP
