Manchester City ‘files comprehensive appeal’ after Premier League finds club guilty of financial fraud: ‘We are innocent’
Manchester City, the eight-time Premier League champions, on Friday confirmed that the club has filed an official appeal against the judgment passed by the Independent Panel regarding allegations of financial fraud and sham deals with sponsors. The drama surrounding the two parties - Premier League and City gained a whole new dimension with the latest development, and the matter is set to go on for the next few months.
Earlier this week, the Premier League confirmed that the independent panel found the club guilty of major financial wrongdoing, and the organisers gave City until October 2 to lodge an official complaint. City confirmed that the appeal was filed on Thursday evening, saying the club remains innocent.
“Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday, 1st October 2026, the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter. The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe,” Manchester City said in an official statement.
“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League, and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete,” it added.
What did the Premier League organisers say?
The Premier League also reacted to the latest development, saying that the independent appeal board hearing will remain private and confidential until the outcome is published.
“Manchester City FC has appealed the decision of an independent Commission regarding breaches of Premier League rules. The club lodged the appeal to the Chair of the Judicial Panel,” the Premier League said.
Earlier, the independent Commission stated that between the seasons 2009/10 and 2017/18, Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts with a number of its commercial partners. Moreover, those ‘sham’ agreements were relied upon to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs.
Manchester City also filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators. Moreover, the panel also claimed that during the investigation launched by the Premier League, Manchester City committed several breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League.
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