Manchester City faced a Friday deadline to appeal an independent commission’s findings that the club breached Premier League financial rules, as the English Football Association (FA) warned that the case had “significant implications for the integrity of the game”.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Premier League announced on Tuesday that the independent commission had found the Abu Dhabi-backed club guilty of more than 100 financial charges.
City, who continue to deny wrongdoing, were expected to appeal the decision before the deadline on Friday.
The potential punishment remains uncertain but could include a substantial points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the Premier League.
The FA broke its silence on the case on Friday, saying the commission’s findings had wider implications for English football.
“We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate,” the national governing body said in a statement.
“As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.”
The independent commission found that City had arranged “sham” deals allegedly designed to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018.
During that period, City won three Premier League titles and other major trophies.
The commission also found that the club had concealed the true state of its finances and was “significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits”.
The case has attracted political attention, with Downing Street saying on Thursday that City could not be considered “above the rules”.
A spokesperson said: “As the prime minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules.”
Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, had earlier told the BBC that he did not want the club’s Emirati owners to withdraw their investment in Manchester as a result of the case.
“I would be really concerned to lose them,” Burnham said, while highlighting the investment made by the club’s controlling Abu Dhabi United Group.
Meanwhile, Oasis star and lifelong City supporter Liam Gallagher defended the club in a post on X on Friday.
“All this hatred directed at MAN CITY from other clubs should be directed at ARSENAL, MAN UTD, LIVERPOOL,” he wrote. “(They are) the ones who are corrupt and trying to stop other teams from winning things not MAN CITY.”
The potential sanctions have been compared with previous financial cases involving Everton and Nottingham Forest, who were handed points deductions during the 2023/24 season for single breaches of financial sustainability rules.
Given the scale of the charges against City, there has been speculation that the club could face relegation or potentially be stripped of titles. However, the final punishment will depend on the outcome of the ongoing proceedings.
City’s main sponsor, UAE-based Etihad Airways, also rejected any suggestion that it had been involved in improper commercial arrangements and said it was considering legal action against the Premier League.
“Etihad categorically rejects any finding, conclusion or implication that suggests the airline has ever been involved in improper commercial arrangements,” an Etihad spokesperson said.
The airline added that it was “deeply concerned” about the way the matter had been communicated publicly, citing what it described as “selective leaks and reporting”.
Another potential consequence is a wave of compensation claims from rival clubs. Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told the BBC that clubs could be “queueing up to seek compensation”.
Manchester City have emerged as a dominant force in English football since Sheikh Mansour, the UAE’s vice-president and deputy prime minister, took control of the club in 2008.
The club’s next fixture is against Liverpool at Anfield on October 11, when City will face one of their main title rivals of the past decade.
