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Manchester City has been found guilty of orchestrating “sham contracts” with multiple commercial partners, according to the Premier League. These arrangements were part of a scheme designed to conceal over £830 million in covert funding. The breaches cover financial regulations spanning from the 2009-10 season through to 2017-18. An independent commission concluded that the club used these fake agreements to artificially boost its revenue figures and minimize reported costs.
The club rejects all allegations and plans to appeal by 2 October. Previously, it was revealed that Manchester City faced accusations of violating the majority of 115 financial rules under scrutiny. On 29 September 2026, the Premier League published a redacted summary of the commission’s report, which detailed more than 100 individual rule breaches clustered under four main categories. Apart from one charge related to lack of cooperation during the investigation, City was found guilty of all alleged offenses. The report also highlighted that several key witnesses from the club gave false or misleading testimony during the inquiry.
The deceitful commercial contracts were an integral aspect of a covert funding strategy, concealing almost £831 million. During the three seasons when City claimed the Premier League title (2011-12, 2013-14, and 2017-18), they reported £360 million in sponsorship income. However, only £43 million of this was deemed legitimate; the rest originated from the club’s owners in a manner disguised to avoid detection. The commission described these sponsorship deals as “shams” or agreements that did not reflect genuine economic substance. The investigation further found deliberate or reckless actions intended to evade Premier League financial regulations. This “sham” scheme helped the club avert what would have otherwise been the largest single-season loss in the league’s history during 2009-10.
The investigation involved reviewing an immense volume of evidence. The report’s index exceeded 750 pages, with tens of thousands of additional pages of core documents. Manchester City is owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), which took control of the club in 2008 and is referenced throughout the commission’s findings.
Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, emphasized the significance of the ruling: “The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.” Masters also defended the League’s pursuit of the case despite the challenges involved, stating that upholding the integrity of the competition is crucial. He reaffirmed the League’s commitment to fairness for all clubs and fans.
In addition, the Premier League noted that appropriate sanctions against Manchester City will be determined at a future hearing by the independent commission, whose proceedings must remain confidential. Commenting on the verdict, UK Culture, Media & Sport Secretary Lisa Nandy called the findings “incredibly serious” and said they have caused significant concern among fans of both Manchester City and Premier League football in general. David Bernstein, former City chairman, voiced that the ruling threatens the “credibility of the Premier League.” He described the report’s findings as “damning beyond belief,” highlighting the production of false documentation and sustained deceitful behavior over many years. Bernstein argued that monetary penalties alone would be insufficient, given the financial strength of the club’s owners, and suggested that failure in appeal could mean Manchester City should face expulsion from the Premier League.
Manchester City responded strongly through an official statement, asserting their surprise and disappointment at the commission’s opinion. The club maintains that it is innocent and says there is comprehensive evidence supporting its positions. They confirmed their intention to vigorously pursue every available regulatory and legal avenue, describing the published opinion as containing “clear material errors of law, principle and fact” and therefore unreliable. The club emphasized that the Premier League’s process is ongoing and that they have respected due process for eight years, expecting fair and impartial treatment. Further comment is limited until all proceedings conclude.
In a separate development, City’s CEO Ferran Soriano declined to comment directly when approached by the media but later released a video message to club employees. In it, he criticized what he called a “Premier League conspiracy theory” and expressed confidence that the club would ultimately be vindicated
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