Man City reach firm decision on 114 charges appeal with new statement issued

Manchester City have announced that they have formally lodged an appeal against findings that the club breached Premier League financial rules.

Earlier this week, the Premier League announced that City have been found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of its financial rules following a ruling by an independent commission.

The commission found that between 2009-10 and 2017-18, the club arranged "sham" contracts with commercial partners as part of a "disguised funding scheme" to artificially inflate the club's revenues by £830 million.

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The Premier League also confirmed that Manchester City have the right to appeal the commission's findings, with the club being given until Friday, October 2 to exercise that right.

As expected, City are appealing the verdict that has sent shockwaves throughout world football. It is believed the club's legal team will claim that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than the club's owners.

Manchester City statement on appeal against guilty verdict in full

"Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the club lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.

"The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.

"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.

"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."

What punishment could Man City face?

City were establishing themselves as one of Europe's top competitors between 2009 and 2018, spending around €1.44bn on new players, according to figures from Transfermarkt. They also lifted the Premier League title on three occasions in 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Since the charges were brought against them in 2023, City have strenuously denied any wrongdoing, claiming they have a "body of irrefutable evidence" that has been provided as part of their defence.

Potential punishments for the breaches include fines, points deductions or even, in the most severe scenario, relegation from the Premier League.

Here's what punishments the independent commission can impose on a club.

• Suspend a club from playing league matches
• Points deductions
• Recommend to the board that league matches be replayed
• Recommend to the board that the league expels the respondent club
• Order compensation
• Cancel or refuse registration of players
• Conditional punishment
• Order the club to pay costs
• Make such other order as it thinks fit