The Football Association (FA) has warned that the independent commission’s verdict against Manchester City has “significant implications for the integrity of the game” after the Premier League club was found guilty of financial breaches spanning almost a decade.
The FA issued its statement after it was confirmed that an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
City have consistently denied the allegations and have until Friday to lodge an appeal against the commission’s findings.
In its response, the FA said it was assessing the decision and would determine whether further action was necessary.
The independent commission’s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game
FA said.
We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.
The governing body stressed that the legal process involving the Premier League and Manchester City remains ongoing and therefore stopped short of making further comments on the case.
As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage
FA added.
We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.
The commission’s findings represent a major development in the long-running case, with the Premier League alleging that City systematically breached its financial regulations over a nine-season period.
Among the findings were allegations that Manchester City arranged what the independent panel described as “sham contracts” with a number of commercial partners.
According to the Premier League, those arrangements formed part of a scheme designed to disguise more than £830m in secret funding.
The Premier League has described the findings as evidence that City “systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade”.
Manchester City have maintained their position of denying guilt throughout the proceedings and are expected to challenge the verdict through the appeal process.
Sources told Softfootball that one of the arguments City were expected to make during an appeal was that key sponsorship agreements were funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club’s owners.
The precise consequences for Manchester City remain unclear while the appeal process is pending. The commission’s findings could potentially have significant sporting and financial implications depending on the outcome of any appeal and subsequent decisions.
For now, the Premier League proceedings remain ongoing, while the FA has indicated that it will continue monitoring the case because of its potential implications for the wider integrity of English football.
