Man City reacts as Premier League confirm guilty verdict over financial breaches

Manchester City have claimed they are 'disappointed and surprised', following the Premier League's confirmation that the club is guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of financial rules. In a statement on Tuesday, the Premier League said City had arranged 'sham' sponsorship deals, filed misstated accounts and breached spending limitsto 'artificially inflate the club's revenues, and reduce its costs, by more than £900 million during the affected period'.

The club also committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League throughout the course of the lengthy investigation. A redacted version of the commission's report,.

Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, said: 'The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League rules for nearly a decade.

'It also vindicates the Premier League's decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

'It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans.

We take that role extremely seriously. 'This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history.

There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission's decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.