The Premier League has officially confirmed the outcome of its long-running financial investigation into Manchester City, with an independent commission finding the club guilty of arranging “sham” commercial deals that artificially inflated revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
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How the Scheme Worked
According to the commission’s findings, Manchester City struck sponsorship agreements where partner companies paid only a portion of the actual fees, with the remainder covertly funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG) — the club’s owner. Further “sham” arrangements allowed City to record artificially lower operating expenses, including a circular deal involving an entity that purchased players’ image rights, also funded by ADUG.
The Consequences for Manchester City
The commission concluded these schemes led City to file misstated accounts, concealing their true financial position from auditors and football regulators, with the explicit purpose of appearing to comply with financial rules. Crucially, the panel found the club “clearly intended to circumvent” Premier League rules.
What Happens Next
Sanctions will be determined in a separate hearing, with potential punishments ranging from heavy fines and points deductions to relegation. City retain the right to appeal, with a deadline of October 2.
Reactions
Premier League CEO Richard Masters said the ruling “vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case,” adding it “details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.” Manchester City, meanwhile, expressed being “disappointed and surprised,” confirming they will pursue all available appeal avenues, calling the commission’s opinion “unsafe.”
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