Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, following the conclusion of a long-running investigation by an independent Commission.
The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, that the Commission found City guilty of financial-rule breaches covering the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons, as well as the majority of charges relating to the club’s failure to cooperate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the Commission found that Manchester City arranged and relied on “sham” commercial agreements with several partners. The League said the arrangements artificially increased the club’s reported revenues and reduced its reported costs during the period under review.
The Commission also found that the club submitted misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators. It further concluded that, had the relevant agreements been accurately reflected in City’s accounts, the club would have been in significant breach of both Premier League and UEFA spending limits.
The Premier League said the schemes identified by the Commission artificially inflated City’s revenues and reduced its costs by more than £900 million during the affected period. It said the arrangements were designed to make the club appear compliant with applicable financial rules.
The Commission also examined Manchester City’s conduct during the Premier League’s four-year investigation. Three of four alleged breaches concerning the club’s duty to cooperate and act in good faith were upheld. The Commission concluded that City had made concerted efforts to obstruct or frustrate aspects of the investigation, according to the Premier League.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters described the decision as a major development for English football, saying the Commission’s findings established what happened at Manchester City during the period under investigation. He said the decision detailed how the club systematically breached Premier League rules over nearly a decade.
However, the case is not yet completely concluded. The Premier League said the question of what sanction should follow the findings will be dealt with separately in another hearing before the independent Commission.
The League has not yet announced a punishment. Under its rules, possible sanctions can include financial penalties, points deductions and other sporting measures.
Manchester City have the right to appeal the Commission’s findings and have until Friday, October 2, to do so. The club has said it rejects the findings, maintains its innocence and intends to pursue the available appeal process, arguing that the decision contains material errors of law, principle and fact.
The Premier League said its intention is for the remaining process, including any appeal and the publication of relevant decisions, to be completed as soon as possible.
The investigation began in December 2018, while the formal complaint against Manchester City was issued in February 2023. The independent Commission subsequently held a 42-day hearing, which concluded in December 2024, before delivering its decision.
The Premier League has described the disciplinary case and the Commission’s decision as the most significant in its history. The final outcome, including any sanction and the result of a possible appeal, remains pending.