Man City guilty of using ‘sham’ deals to distort finances, Premier League says
An independent commission found several sponsors paid only part of the agreed fees, with the balance supplied by the club's owner Abu Dhabi United Group.
Manchester City has been found guilty of using "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by over £900 million over a nine-year period, according to the Premier League. The independent commission ruled that the club violated financial rules repeatedly during the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons, as well as for three out of four charges related to cooperation with the investigation.
The club, which denies the allegations, stated it would appeal, claiming the opinion contains errors in law, principle, and fact. If a significant punishment is imposed, it could impact past and future title races, European qualification, and the distribution of millions in prize money. The case has raised concerns about financial governance, competitive integrity, and the Premier League's ability to hold its top clubs accountable.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Man City guilty of using ‘sham’ deals to distort finances, Premier League says freemalaysiatoday.com
- Manchester City Found Guilty of Premier League Financial Breaches kahawatungu.com
