Manchester City are set to owe the Premier League up to £50m in legal costs after an independent commission found the club guilty of virtually all charges, including arranging 'sham' contracts to inflate income. The club denies wrongdoing.
Key facts
- An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of virtually all charges brought by the Premier League.
- The commission determined the club artificially inflated income by £900m over a nine-year period.
- City could owe the Premier League up to £50m in legal costs, according to the Guardian.
- The panel concluded the club arranged 'sham' contracts to comply with spending rules.
- Manchester City deny wrongdoing, describing the case as a 'conspiracy theory'.
Manchester City are set to owe the Premier League tens of millions of pounds in compensation for legal costs after being found guilty of virtually all charges brought against them, according to the Guardian.
The Premier League announced on Tuesday that an independent commission had determined the club artificially inflated their income by £900m over a nine-year period. The panel concluded that Manchester City had arranged ‘sham’ contracts to boost revenues in order to comply with spending rules.
As a result of the ruling, the club could be forced to pay the Premier League up to £50m in legal costs, the Guardian reported. The figure reflects the scale and complexity of the long-running case between the league and one of its most successful clubs.
Manchester City deny any wrongdoing. The club has characterised the case against them as a ‘conspiracy theory,’ maintaining their position despite the commission’s findings.
The commission’s conclusion that the club broke financial rules marks a significant moment in a dispute that has drawn widespread attention across football and business circles, given the sums involved and the standing of the club within the Premier League.
Why it matters
The ruling involves one of the most successful clubs in English football and alleged breaches running into hundreds of millions of pounds. The outcome could carry significant financial and reputational consequences, and it signals how the Premier League enforces its spending rules against its biggest members.
Frequently asked questions
What was Manchester City found guilty of?
An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of virtually all charges brought by the Premier League, concluding the club artificially inflated income by £900m over nine years and arranged 'sham' contracts to comply with spending rules.
How much could Manchester City have to pay in legal costs?
According to the Guardian, Manchester City could be forced to pay the Premier League up to £50m in legal costs.
How has Manchester City responded?
Manchester City deny any wrongdoing and have described the case against them as a 'conspiracy theory.'