Man City respond as Premier League confirm guilty verdict

Manchester City (Picture: REX) Manchester City said they are 'disappointed and surprised' after the Premier League confirmed the club are guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of financial rules. In a lengthy statement, it was revealed that the club 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. 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 andfans. 'The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums,' their statement continued.

Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about - powered by Metro and trusted publications. 'The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.

Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe. Manchester City allegations timeline November 2018: German newspaper Der Spiegel publish claims Manchester City have breached FFP rules March 2019: UEFA launch investigation into the claims May 2019: Manchester City launch an appeal against the investigation November 2019: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rules the appeal as inadmissible February 2020: Manchester City are handed a two-year ban from European competition and a €30m fine by UEFA July 2020: The ban is overturned after the club appeal to CAS April 2022: Der Spiegel report the Premier League has been investigating Manchester City for three years February 2023: The Premier League charges the club with 115 breaches of its financial rules September 2024: Start of a 10-week hearing between the Premier League and Manchester City September 2026: Reports emerge that Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 financial rules the club are accused of breaking 'The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.