Manchester City Charged by Premier League for Financial Play Rules

VIVA – Manchester City was formally charged by Premiere league officials Monday, February 6, 2023, of breaking financial Fair Play rules over the last nine seasons following the completion of a four-year investigation.

City are alleged to have violated more than 100 rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, notably failing to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position.”

The Premier League will consider both private and open-ended sanctions that could potentially include fines, a points deduction in the league table, or even relegation from England’s top division altogether. The club notably won four Premier League championships during the span in which these alleged financial improprieties are said to have taken place.

Specific accusations from the league include:

1. Club revenue, including sponsorship income and operating costs like full details of manager pay between 2009-10 and 2012-13 under Roberto Mancini, and player pay between 2010-11 and 2015-16.

2. UEFA rules and regulations regarding Financial Fair Play from 2013-2014 to 2017-2018.

3. Premier League rules on profitability and sustainability from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

This latest episode is not the first Manchester City Financial Fair Play accusation on record. In 2020, the club was banned from European competitions, including the Champions League, for two years due to serious FFP breaches from 2012-16, but the ban was quickly overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

UEFA began its investigation in 2018 after German newspaper Der Spiegel published leaked documents in November 2018 as part of its Football Leaks investigation that Man City inflated the value of one of its sponsorship deals.

In this situation, there was a discordant voice that the FA imposed a harsh punishment for The Citizens as soon as possible, "If proven, they must get appropriate punishment. Maybe the most fitting thing is relegation for them," said one of the Premier League club leaders who became The Sun's source.

After that, Manchester City offered a response to the allegations, claiming in a statement:

"Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast number of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.”

"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. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."