Manchester City have been reportedly been found guilty of nearly all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
According to The Athletic, City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges, with the sanctions yet to be decided. City are expected to challenge appeal the decision and have always denied any wrongdoing.
A spokesperson told the outlet: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
City have had the charges hanging over their heads since a 2019 report from German outlet Der Spiegel which was based on the work of a Portuguese computer hacker Rui Pinto.
Pinto had hacked into the email accounts of various football clubs and agents. It was this story that started the UEFA investigation into City, which also led to this Premier League investigation. In February 2023, the Premier League charged City with breaking more than 100 of its financial rules – with the breaches covering the period between 2009 and 2018.
During the period of the alleged breaches, City won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup four times and the Community Shield.
The charges ranged from failing to provide accurate financial information for nine seasons to not co-operating with the Premier League’s four-year investigation.
City had a two-year UEFA ban overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in July 2020 and, in 2014, the club was fined £49m for breaking UEFA’s FFP rules, of which £32m was suspended.
In February 2023 City said was “surprised” by the charges and it “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”.
While, the following summer, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, said the Premier League should adopt a more “balanced approach” towards its financial regulations.
He claimed: “I think the Premier League got to where it is today by being the most competitive league. So, I hope there is a bit more sensibility in regulating.”
Premier League chief executive admitted that the process had “taken longer than expected” but insisted the “only available route” was to “let the process take its course”.
City were free spenders over the summer, splashing £450m on new stars including a British record-equalling fee of £125m for Enzo Fernandez.
Under Enzo Maresca, after the departure of Pep Guardiola in the summer, City have won five from five and top the Premier League table.