Manchester City accused of breaching Premier League financial rules

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - The English Premier League has accused Manchester City of years of financial rules violations in the space of nine seasons, with the club referred to an independent commission.

The league said in a statement on Monday that in a lengthy investigation, the Sky Blues were found to have broken rules from the 2009-10 season until the 2017-18 campaign.

Alleged offenses include failure to failing to provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position" or gives "full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts.”

The league added that Man City also failed to comply with UEFA regulations in 2013-18, league profitability and sustainability rules in 2015-18, and assisting with the Premier League investigation from December 2018 until now.

In 2020, the English club were banned from European events for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons and were fined €30 million ($32 million) due to breaches of UEFA club financial fair play regulations.

But then the court of arbitration for sport (CAS) lifted Manchester City's Champions League ban but fined the club $10 million.

In a statement Monday, the club said it was “surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules.”

“The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position,” Man City added.