Manchester City confirmed it launched an appeal against a judgement dated 2 October 2026, which found the club guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. The independent commission determined that the ten-time English champions arranged fictitious commercial agreements with several sponsors as part of a 'disguised funding scheme'.
Over a span of nearly ten years, the commission established that City committed more than 100 violations of the Premier League's financial regulations. These agreements, which City entered into, artificially boosted revenues and lowered costs by over £900 million, or $1.2 billion, during the period spanning 2009 and 2018.
The commission further concluded that the club had obscured its actual financial standing, stating that City were 'significantly in breach of both the Premier League's and UEFA 's spending limits''. The club's official position asserts that the opinion contains clear material errors concerning law, principle, and fact, rendering it unsafe.
The English Football Association stated on 2 October 2026 that the commission's decision 'has significant implications for the integrity of the game'. Etihad Airways, which sponsors City, indicated it was assessing legal action against the Premier League.
The Athletic first reported on 29 September that City had been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against them. Khaldoon Al Mubarak stated that 'Our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began'.
The charges levied against City pertain to the financial period between 2009 and 2018. For context, Everton and Nottingham Forest received points deductions during the 2023/24 season following single breaches of financial sustainability rules.
Between 2009 and 2018, City secured four league titles, with United and Liverpool each finishing second in those respective seasons.
