Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18, following the decision of an Independent Commission investigating the charges against the club, which was announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
According to the ruling, Manchester City used commercial agreements described as “sham contracts” along with other financial arrangements that helped the club report inflated revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million. The measures allowed the club to appear compliant with Premier League financial requirements during the period in question.
Manchester City have responded to the decision by expressing disappointment and surprise, while rejecting the findings of the Independent Commission and arguing that the ruling contains errors of law and principle. The club has indicated that it intends to appeal the decision.
For now, no punishment has been determined against Manchester City, with the sanctions to be considered at a separate stage of the process. There is therefore currently no decision regarding a points deduction, relegation or any other penalty, while the appeal process is expected to form an important part of the next steps.
