Man City claim they are “innocent” after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-year period.
The Premier League published the verdict of the independent commission that adjudicated the investigation into the club’s 115 breaches.
The commission found that City were guilty of all charges related to “serious breaches” of the league’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. They were also found guilty of all but one of the four charges related to their failure to cooperate with the investigation.
City were found to have arranged ‘sham’ contracts with a number of its sponsors to inflate their revenue. Companies were only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees, while the remainder was funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
In a statement published on Tuesday, City say they are “disappointed and surprised” by the outcome of the investigation, which it suggests was not conducted by a “independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator”.
They add that they will appeal the decision, claiming that there is a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” that will exonerate them.
‘Relentless’ Man City claim innocence following Premier League verdict
“Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today,” the statement read.
“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.
“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.
“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 Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”
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