Manchester City have been found guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules following a long-running investigation into the club's finances.
An independent commission ruled that City breached financial regulations over a nine-season period between 2009 and 2018.
The commission found that the club arranged sham contracts with several commercial partners to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs, while also concealing the true state of its finances. The findings concluded that City significantly breached both Premier League and UEFA spending limits during the period.
City were also found guilty of the majority of charges relating to their failure to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation.
No sanction has yet been imposed, and Manchester City have confirmed their intention to appeal the decision.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said the commission's decision established the facts surrounding City's conduct during the period and concluded that the club had systematically breached league rules for almost a decade.
Masters added that the Premier League would now seek to move swiftly through the remaining stages of the process to provide greater certainty for clubs and supporters.
City have emerged as one of English football's dominant forces since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's takeover in 2008.
The club have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups and seven League Cups over the past 15 years, while also lifting the Champions League for the first time in 2023.
That same year, the Premier League charged City following its investigation into alleged financial rule breaches.
An independent commission hearing began in September 2024 and concluded three months later, before the findings were eventually announced.
Manchester City have challenged the commission's conclusions and confirmed they will pursue the available appeal process.
The club said it believes the decision contains material errors relating to law, principle and fact, arguing that the findings are unsafe.
The case will now move into its next stage, with City's appeal and any potential sanctions still to be determined.
