BAN MAN CITY: PREMIER LEAGUE STATEMENT ON MAN CITY BAN

MANCHESTER CITY could be EXPELLED from the Premier League after they were charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of financial rules.

Other possible punishments include a points deduction for the reigning champions, transfer bans, spending limits and even the stripping of previous titles - although the situation is unprecedented.

The investigation into the club's dealings has lasted for four years.

And now the Premier League have published their findings on their website - and it does not make good reading for the Etihad club, although at this stage they have been charged but not found guilty.

The charges relate to breaching regulations over nine seasons between 2009 and 2018, with the investigation starting way back in December 2018.

That was prompted following the publishing of leaked documents by German website Der Spiegel - with the investigation focusing on three specific areas.

The first alleged issue is "under-age players were pressured to sign contracts with City through monetary payments".

Secondly, that Abu Dhabi sponsors "provided only a portion of their payments to the club", with owner Sheikh Mansour stumping up the rest, in turn overstating the sponsorship income.

Lastly, ex-boss Roberto Mancini received a "significant portion" of compensation from a "fictitious consultancy contract" when he left the club in 2013.

Uefa slapped City with a two-year ban and fined the club £25million for alleged financial fair play breaches.

However, in 2020, that was overturned and the final fine cut to £9m by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Now the findings of the investigation and multiple alleged breaches have been referred to a commission.

It is also claimed by the Premier League that City did not comply with Uefa regulations surrounding club licensing and financial fair play in 2013-14 and between 2014-15 and 2017-18.

Another breach relates to Prem profit and sustainability rules in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

The Premier League also accused City of failing to cooperate and assist with the investigation.

As the club did in 2020 with the Uefa appeal, the Etihad side will likely establish a significant legal team of expert lawyers to fight their case.

City won the title three times in the period covered by the investigation - in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2017-18.

They have also finished top of the table three times since - in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22.

In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club (Club) to a Commission under Premier League Rule W.3.4.

Details of the Premier League Rules that the Club is alleged to have breached are as follows:

1. In respect of each of Seasons 2009/10 to 2017/18 inclusive, the Premier League Rules applicable in those seasons that required provision by a member club to the Premier League, in the utmost good faith, of accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position, in particular with respect to its revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs, namely:
(a) for Season 2009/10, Premier League Rules B.13, C.71, C.72, C.75 (amended to C.79 from 10 September 2009 for the remainder of Season 2009/10) and C.80;
(b) for Season 2010/11, Premier League Rules B.13, C.78, C.79, C.86 and C.87;
(c) for Season 2011/12, Premier League Rules B.13, E.3, 4, E.11 and E.12;
(d) for Season 2012/13, Premier League Rules 16, E.3, E.4, E.11 and E.12;
(e) for Season 2013/14, Premier League Rules 15, E.3, E.4, E.11, E.12 and E.49;
(f) for Season 2014/15, Premier League Rules 16, E.3, E.4, E.11, E.12 and E.50;
(g) for Season 2015/16, Premier League Rules 16, E.3, E.4, E.11, E.12 and E.50;
(h) for Season 2016/17, Premier League Rules16, E.3, E.4, E.11, E.12 and E.51; and
(i) for Season 2017/18, Premier League Rules B.16, 3, E.4, E.11, E.12 and E.51.

2. In respect of:
(a) each of Seasons 2009/10 to 2012/13 inclusive, the Premier League Rules applicable in those Seasons requiring a member club to include full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts with its manager, namely:
  (1) for Seasons 2009/10 to 2011/12 inclusive, Premier League Rules Q.7 and Q.8; and
  (2) for Season 2012/13, Premier League Rules P.7 and P.8; and
(b) each of Seasons 2010/11 to 2015/16 inclusive, the Premier League Rules applicable in those Seasons requiring a member club to include full details of player remuneration in its relevant contracts with its players, namely:
  (1) for Seasons 2010/11 and 2011/12, Premier League Rules K.12 and K.20;
  (2) for Season 2012/13, Premier League Rules T.12 and T.20;
  (3) for Seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15, Premier League Rules T.12 and T.19; and
  (4) for Season 2015/16, Premier League Rules T.13 and T.20.

3. In respect of each of Seasons 2013/14 to 2017/18 inclusive, the Premier League Rules applicable in those Seasons requiring a member club to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations, namely:
(a) for Season 2013/14, Premier League Rule B.14.6; and
(b) for Seasons 2014/15 to 2017/18 inclusive, Premier League Rule B.15.6.

4. In respect of each of the Seasons 2015/16 to 2017/18 inclusive, the Premier League Rules applicable in those Seasons on Profitability and Sustainability, namely:
(a) for Season 2015/16, Premier League Rules E.52 to E.60; and
(b) for Seasons 2016/17 and 2017/18, Premier League Rules E.53 to E.60.

5. In respect of the period from December 2018 to date, the Premier League Rules applicable in the relevant Seasons requiring a member club to cooperate with, and assist, the Premier League in its investigations, including by providing documents and information to the Premier League in the utmost good faith, namely:
(a) for Season 2018/19, Premier League Rules B.16, B.19, W.1, W.2, W.12 and W.13;
(b) for Season 2019/20, Premier League Rules B.16, B.19, W.1, W.2, W.12 and W.13;
(c) for Season 2020/21, Premier League Rules B.16, B.19, W.1, W.2, W.12 and W.13;
(d) for Season 2021/22, Premier League Rules B.15, B.18, W.1, W.2, W.15 and W.16; and
(e) for Season 2022/23, Premier League Rules B.15, B.18, W.1, W.2, W.15 and W.16. 

Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel, in accordance with Premier League Rules W.19, W.20 and W.26.

The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.

This confirmation is made in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice.