Manchester City have appealed an independent commission’s ruling that found the 10-time English champions guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League’s financial regulations.
In a statement released on Friday, City said the commission’s ruling contained ‘clear material errors, of law, principle and fact’ and was therefore ‘unsafe’.
The club, which continues to deny wrongdoing, said it submitted a ‘comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence’ to support its position.
‘The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle, and fact and is unsafe,’ City said.
‘The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions relating to this case.
‘We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.’
City face potential Premier League sanctions
No sanction has yet been determined by the Premier League, but City could face a substantial points deduction, a fine, or, in the most serious circumstances, expulsion from the top division.
The club was found guilty of the charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons.
The commission found that commercial arrangements had artificially inflated City’s revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million ($1.2 billion) between 2009 and 2018.
It also concluded that the club had concealed the true state of its finances and was ‘significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits’.
FA warns of implications for English football
The Football Association said the commission’s verdict had ‘significant implications for the integrity of the game’ and that it was assessing the decision.
‘We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate,’ the FA said.
‘As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage.
‘We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.’
The FA’s regulatory powers mean it could potentially launch its own investigation, exposing City to further sanctions.
The appeal marks another stage in the long-running dispute between Manchester City and the Premier League, with the club maintaining its innocence and challenging the commission’s findings on multiple grounds.