The Premier League on Monday accused Manchester City of breaking financial rules for years, setting the stage for a costly and high-risk battle that could leave City, one of the most dominant teams in Europe. over the past decade, being excluded from the English top flight.
Fees, stated in a statement released by the Premier League on Monday morning and unprecedented for its size, accusing City of repeatedly failing to provide accurate financial information that “gives a true and fair view of the financial position of clubs, especially in terms of revenue (including sponsorship revenue). , its stakeholders and its operating costs.”
City, which have won six Premier League titles since 2011, are also accused of failing to disclose contract payments to coaches and players, and failing to cooperate with Premier investigators. League on request.
The Premier League said the rule violations were referred to an independent committee and will be heard in a confidential hearing, according to the league’s rules. Federation officials declined to comment further on the statement, or the case against the City.
In a statement published on its website, Manchester City responded to the allegations by saying it was “surprised at the introduction of these alleged violations”. The group argues that it has cooperated with Premier League investigators, has turned over “a large amount of detailed documentation” and that it welcomes an independent review of what it calls a “comprehensive authority on the matter”. irrefutable evidence” which they say supports the club’s position.
It is unclear what penalties Manchester City could face if the league’s allegations are upheld. Based on exceptional lawTeams found to be in violation of its rules will face sanctions that can include reprimands, fines, point deductions on the leaderboard or even expulsion from the top league.
The charges go back to 2009 – a year after Manchester City was bought by the brother of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and began an era of acceleration in both spending and success.
Under the management of the Gulf owners, Manchester City have become one of the most successful and most comfortable spending teams in world football, multiple times England champions and frequent contenders for the the best players in the world and the biggest trophies in Europe.
All the while, there has been doubt about Manchester City’s financial dealings and their willingness to comply with the financial regulations and control costs of not only the Premier League but also the football governing body. European football, UEFA. In 2020, UEFA Man City banned from playing from its premier league, the Champions League, for two years for breaching financial rules, although the club appealed the decision and the ban overturned.
In challenging that ban, City focused on a few words from UEFA’s rule, which prescribes a five-year period for infractions that qualify for punishment. In fact, UEFA’s investigation took too long to look at the most serious offences, and so the club escaped the harshest punishments available to them.
Unlike UEFA, the Premier League has no statute of limitations in its regulations.
The scale of the misconduct the Premier League alludes to is remarkable in its scale. No previous investigation has lasted as long as the current case against Manchester City, nor have any allegations of misconduct spanned so many seasons.
Some of the allegations date back to the 2009-10 season and at least one relates to the current campaign. Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League and chasing their fifth title in six years.
Manchester City officials have for years fought back against any attempt to criticize their financial practices or question their compliance with financial rules against hackers who leaked their funds. personal data of the club and the media organizations that have covered them. It called the allegations that the club violated the rules “Completely wrong” and criticized the investigation as “unfair.”
In the previous case involving a proposed Champions League ban, City have vowed to do “everything we can” to defend its actions and clear its name. Sponsored by one of the richest men in the world, the club seems willing to spend any money to prevail. But in the Premier League, it could face a formidable opponent. The league is one of the richest sports leagues in the world, and it brings together more than half a dozen of the world’s wealthiest teams — all chasing the same prizes as Man City every season.
