Business · Malaysia Bureau
Manchester City found guilty of financial misconduct by Premier League
An independent commission has determined that Manchester City engaged in financial irregularities through sponsorship arrangements, with club owner Abu Dhabi United Group allegedly supplementing incomplete sponsor payments. The findings represent a significant development in the Premier League's ongoing investigation into the club's finances.
LSN Malaysia ·
Manchester City has been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules through the use of questionable sponsorship deals designed to inflate the club's revenues, according to an independent commission's assessment released by the Premier League. The investigation uncovered a pattern whereby several corporate sponsors paid only a portion of their agreed fees, with the shortfall being covered by the club's owner, Abu Dhabi United Group, effectively disguising direct owner investment as legitimate commercial income. This arrangement allowed City to present inflated sponsorship revenues on their financial statements, thereby distorting the club's accounts and potentially breaching financial fair play regulations. The commission's findings suggest the deals were structured as "sham" arrangements intended to circumvent spending restrictions that govern Premier League clubs. Manchester City now faces potential sanctions as the Premier League proceeds with determining appropriate penalties for the violations. The case represents one of the most serious financial misconduct findings in recent Premier League history and could have significant implications for how the league monitors club finances moving forward.