Manchester City Found Guilty of Financial Rule Breaches by Independent Commission, Club Vows to Appeal

An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty of all charges concerning financial rule breaches between 2009 and 2018, along with most charges regarding a reported lack of co-operation during the lengthy investigation, the Premier League announced on Tuesday.

Richard Masters, the Premier League's chief executive, stated that "the core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period." The Premier League confirmed that Manchester City holds the right to appeal and has until Friday to submit it.

In response, Manchester City expressed that the club was "disappointed and surprised" by the verdict from the commission, maintaining that it was "innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League."

The club stated, "A comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums."

Manchester City added, "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."

Furthermore, the club noted, "The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."

The Premier League stated its intention to conclude any appeals and publish final decisions "as soon as possible."