Manchester City have rejected the findings of an independent commission which ruled that the club committed serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations, insisting they remain innocent and will challenge the decision.
Man City responded after the Premier League published the commission’s findings on Tuesday, covering alleged breaches between 2009/10 and 2017/18.
The commission found Man City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules, while three of four alleged breaches concerning the club’s cooperation with the league’s investigation were also upheld.
However, Man City have strongly disputed the conclusions and confirmed their intention to pursue the available appeal process.
Man City statement
“Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission that has been published today,” a club statement said.
“The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case.
“The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.”
Man City also claimed that the commission’s opinion contained “clear material errors of law, principle and fact” and described the ruling as “unsafe”.
The club has maintained that position throughout the eight-year process.
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Aggrieved by process
“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,” the statement added.
The commission’s findings assert that Man City used what it described as “sham” commercial arrangements to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million during the period under investigation.
The Premier League has yet to determine the sanctions arising from the findings, with a separate hearing required to address the punishment.
Final stages near
Man City have until Friday, October 2, to appeal the commission’s decision.
The Citizens ended their statement by saying they were restricted in what they could say while the remaining proceedings continue.
“The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete,” the statement concluded.
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