Full Premier League Statement on Independent Commission's Findings in Manchester City Case

Five days after news broke that an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of nearly all financial rule breaches brought against the club, the Premier League has issued an official statement. Below is the full text of the league's release, alongside comments from Chief Executive Richard Masters.

"An independent commission has found Manchester City Football Club guilty on all charges relating to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules across nine consecutive seasons. The club has also been found guilty of the vast majority of charges regarding its failure to cooperate with the league's investigation.

According to the commission's findings, the key breaches established for the period between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons include:

Manchester City entered into sham contracts with multiple commercial partners and used artificial third-party agreements to inflate club revenues and depress true operating costs. The club submitted inaccurate financial statements and concealed its genuine financial position from auditors and regulatory authorities. Manchester City substantially breached spending limits set by both the Premier League and UEFA. During the inquiry, the club repeatedly failed in its duties of good faith and cooperation toward the league, with the commission upholding three of the four charges brought in that regard.

The investigation uncovered that the club operated a disguised funding mechanism via sham sponsorship contracts. Commercial partners paid only a fraction of the contracted sums, with the balance funded directly by club ownership entity Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development (ADUG). Similar sham arrangements were used to artificially lower operational expenditure, including a circular agreement concerning player image rights via the entity Fordham, also financed by ADUG.

The commission concluded that the objective of these financial maneuvers was to manipulate balance sheets by over £900 million in order to simulate compliance with the rules. The regulatory panel explicitly noted that club executives acted deliberately to circumvent Premier League regulations.

As a result, Manchester City's financial statements failed to reflect true revenues and costs under the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) as well as UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations. Under proper accounting, the club would have dramatically exceeded allowable spending limits.

Alongside these breaches, the club mounted systematic resistance throughout the four-year investigation, with the commission concluding that deliberate efforts were made to obstruct and delay the inquiry.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters commented on the ruling:

"The ruling establishes the definitive facts surrounding what occurred at Manchester City over that period, detailing how the club systematically violated regulations for nearly a decade. It vindicates our decision to bring these proceedings. It is the responsibility of league leadership to protect the integrity of the competition and uphold the rules agreed upon by the clubs themselves. This disciplinary proceeding and the resulting decision represent the most significant in Premier League history."

With liability on the charges now formally established, a separate hearing before the independent commission will be scheduled to determine the specific sanctions to be imposed on Manchester City.

Under Premier League rules, the proceedings remain confidential and closed to the public until publication of the final outcome is authorized. The club maintains the right to appeal the commission's findings, with the deadline for filing set for Friday, October 2. The Premier League aims to conclude the entire process, including any appellate steps and the publication of relevant rulings, as swiftly as possible.

Timeline of the Investigation and Commission Proceedings

The Premier League's investigation into Manchester City was initiated in December 2018. Formal charges were subsequently brought in February 2023 under Section W of the league's rules. The independent commission conducted a 42-day hearing, which concluded in December 2024.

Addressing the time required to deliver the ruling, the independent commission noted:

"Drafting our decision took significantly longer than we would have wished and expected when the hearings concluded. We note this fact with regret. However, throughout this preparation period, we had before us not only the voluminous hearing bundles, but verbatim transcripts of every witness and expert running to nearly 7,000 pages, as well as highly detailed written submissions from both parties, supplemented by four days of closing oral submissions."

Powers, Governance Structure, and Appeals Process

The Premier League Board has the authority to investigate any alleged rule breaches. Where sufficient grounds exist, the Board may issue a formal complaint and refer the matter to an independent commission. These proceedings are managed by an independent judicial panel comprising experts in law, finance, and related fields.

Panel members are appointed by an independent Chair, who also empanels each specific commission. At the time charges were filed, the Chair was Murray Rosen KC; the position is currently held by Sir Gary Hickinbottom. All Section W proceedings are conducted under strict confidentiality.

Commissions possess wide-ranging powers to impose sanctions, including fines, points deductions, and other sporting penalties. Final decisions are published on the official Premier League website. Either party may challenge a decision before a three-member Appeals Panel, chaired by an individual with judicial experience, which has the power to uphold, overturn, or vary the initial ruling.

Confidentiality and Public Disclosure

The disciplinary process remains protected by confidentiality provisions. At present, only an executive summary of the commission's core findings has been cleared for publication. Until the case is fully resolved, all additional information will remain confidential, with the Premier League set to release the full written reasons once all legal and regulatory conditions allow.