Follow Al Rai
Manchester City has been convicted of 114 out of 115 charges brought against it regarding breaches of financial rules in the English Premier League, according to a report published by "The Athletic" yesterday, Friday.
The report added that no penalty has been determined yet, and that City intends to appeal the decision.
The outcome of the independent hearing, which began more than two years ago, could cause a major shock in English football.
The legacy of the trophy-laden era experienced by City is now at stake, in light of accusations that this success was built on financial irregularities.
The Premier League charged City in 2023, following an investigation into alleged violations between 2009 and 2018.
The club, which has always denied these allegations, was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and correct details regarding payments made to players and managers, as well as violating financial sustainability rules.
Since the Abu Dhabi United Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour, acquired the club in 2008, City has become the dominant force in English football.
Over the past 15 years, the club has won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cup titles, seven League Cup titles, in addition to one UEFA Champions League title.
The roots of the suspicions date back to leaked documents published by the German magazine "Der Spiegel" in 2018.
Emails believed to have been exchanged between senior City officials showed that the club inflated sponsorship revenues from "Etihad Airways" and "Etisalat," both state-owned in Abu Dhabi, by presenting direct investments from Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group as commercial revenue.
Other documents also showed allegations regarding undisclosed payments to the team's then-Italian manager, Roberto Mancini, through consulting fees paid to him via a club in Abu Dhabi.
If City is proven guilty, penalties are likely to include a significant points deduction, and perhaps even expulsion from the Premier League.
Both Everton and Nottingham Forest were subjected to points deductions during the 2023-2024 season due to a single breach of profitability and sustainability rules.
Any harsh penalty could also raise doubts about the future of a group of City stars, including the Norwegian prolific striker Erling Haaland.
Other clubs may also demand that City be stripped of the titles it has won and seek compensation if it is proven that it gained an unfair advantage through illegal means.
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
