Manchester City has filed an appeal against its conviction for serious violations of the financial rules of the English Premier League, after an independent committee concluded that the club committed more than 100 violations, including “sham” deals to inflate revenues and reduce costs. The Abu Dhabi-owned club may face penalties that include a significant deduction of points, a fine, or even expulsion from the Premier League, and it also faces the possibility of an influx of demands for compensation.

Published on: 02/10/2026 - 16:07

Manchester City has appealed a ruling convicting it of all charges related to serious violations of the financial rules of the English Premier League, it announced on Friday. The League Association reported on Tuesday that an independent committee found the Abu Dhabi-backed club guilty of more than 100 charges.

The details of the potential penalty are not yet clear, but the club currently leading the richest local league in the world may face a large deduction of points, a fine, or even expulsion from the top flight.

City, which is owned by an Emirati fund, confirmed in a statement that “the club is innocent of the accusations brought against it by the English Premier League,” and that “there is a complete set of compelling evidence that supports its position in this case,” explaining that the appeal was submitted on Thursday evening.

“Major implications for the integrity of the game.”

The local federation of the game considered, on Friday, that the committee’s decision “has major repercussions on the integrity of the game,” and stressed that it is “carefully studying the decision and its repercussions, and we will take appropriate measures where necessary.”

The Federation said that it does not intend to make further comments at this stage, “given that the proceedings between the English Premier League and Manchester City Football Club are still ongoing.”

"Sham" deals

The independent committee concluded that City concluded “sham” deals to artificially inflate its revenues and reduce its costs by more than 900 million pounds ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018, a period during which it won three titles in the English Premier League and other tournaments.

Read also: The English Premier League: Will the financial irregularities case take Manchester City to the second division?

The committee found that the club concealed the true state of its financial situation, saying that City had "significantly breached the spending limits of both the League and the European Football Association (UEFA)".

Following criticism of British Prime Minister Andy Burnum over the case, Downing Street said Thursday that the giant club is not "above the rules." “As the Prime Minister has made clear, the initial ruling is serious and there can be no suggestion that anyone is above the rules,” a spokesman said.

Burnum, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, expressed on Wednesday his fear that the club's Emirati owners would withdraw as a result of this case.

Clubs "will line up to demand compensation"

Etihad Airways, City's main sponsor, said it was considering taking legal action against the English Premier League. A spokesman said the company "categorically rejects any allegation, inference or suggestion that the airline has ever engaged in improper business arrangements."

The club faces the possibility of an influx of compensation claims. Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told the BBC that clubs "will be lining up to demand compensation."

City has become the dominant force in the English Premier League since Sheikh Mansour, Vice President of the UAE and Deputy Prime Minister, took over the club in 2008.

France 24/AFP

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