The biggest scandal in English football
An independent commission released on Tuesday (September 29) a historic decision against Manchester City. The club was convicted of artificially inflating its revenues by more than US$ 1 billion over a decade, violating the Premier League's financial control rules.
Origin of the investigations
Suspicions began in 2018, after the leak of emails and internal documents. The English league initiated the official process more than three years ago. Of the 115 accused items, the vast majority were deemed valid.
Period of irregularities
Between 2009 and 2018, the club presented distorted financial data. During this period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles and signed stars like Yaya Touré, Sergio Agüero and Kevin De Bruyne, with support from investors from the United Arab Emirates.
Main violations
- Sending inaccurate financial information
- Inflation of sponsorship revenues from Abu Dhabi
- Concealment of actual payments
- Refusal to cooperate with the investigation between 2018 and 2023
The rules aim to prevent excessive spending and ensure the stability of clubs.
Reactions and consequences
Rival clubs are already demanding compensation and threatening legal action. Fans and players question whether the titles won should be stripped. The club faces severe punishments, such as point deductions or even exclusion from the league.
Manchester City denies all accusations and announced that it will appeal the decision until October 2.