Man City charged by Premier League with numerous breaches of financial rules

Manchester City have been charged with numerous breaches of financial rules by the Premier League following a four-year investigation into their transactions.

According to the chief reporter for the Times Martyn Ziegler, the reigning Premier League champions have been hit with more than 100 charges of breaching rules and the club could face severe punishments if these allegations are proven to be true.

A statement from the league said alleged breaches were committed across nine different seasons starting from the 2009/10 campaign and the case will be referred to an independent commission.

The charges against Man City relate to financial information regarding revenue, player and manager wages, UEFA financial fair play regulations between 2013/14 to 2017/18, profitability and sustainability rules from the 2015-16 to 2017-18 campaign and cooperation with the investigations of the league’s governing body from December 2018 onwards.

City are also alleged to have breached rules requiring the provision of ‘accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position in utmost good faith’.

If the club is found guilty of these charges, they could face several possible sanctions ranging from points deduction to expulsion from the competition. 

Other possible punishments include transfer bans and spending limits. The Cityzens could also be stripped of titles they have won during the period in question – although, per the report, it could take years for the governing body to come to a definitive ruling.

A statement released by the Premier League read: “In accordance with Premier League rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today [February 6 2023] referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League rules by Manchester City Football Club to a commission under Premier League rule W.3.4.

“The proceedings before the commission will, in accordance with Premier League rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League rule W.82.2, the commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.”

This is not the first time City have been charged with breaching financial rules, with the club previously banned from the Champions League by UEFA for two seasons and also fined €30 million in February 2020 for ‘overstating their accounts’.

However, after denying any wrongdoing and appealing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the ban was overturned and the fine was reduced to €10m.

According to a former financial adviser to Man City who has dealt with allegations of historic accounting issues, the sheer extent of the league’s charges are at a level that, if proven, must lead to relegation.

It remains to be seen what actions will be taken against the club this time, with Guardiola’s side looking to retain their league crown as they sit five points behind league leaders Arsenal.

They are also in the running for the FA Cup and Champions League titles.