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Manchester City have formally appealed the verdict of an independent commission that found the club guilty of multiple breaches of Premier League financial rules.
The club confirmed on Friday that it lodged its comprehensive appeal at 7pm on Thursday, October 1, a day before the deadline set by the Premier League.
The appeal follows last week’s publication of the commission’s findings in the long-running case, which relates to alleged financial-rule breaches covering the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons.
The independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. It also found the club guilty of three of four charges relating to its alleged failure to cooperate with the league’s investigation.
Among the commission’s findings were that City had arranged what it described as “sham” commercial agreements that artificially increased the club’s reported revenues and reduced its costs. The commission said the arrangements resulted in the club artificially inflating revenues and reducing costs by more than £900 million during the period under review.
The commission also found that the club had filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from auditors and football regulators. It further concluded that City had been significantly in breach of both Premier League and UEFA spending limits during the period covered by the case.
Manchester City, however, have consistently denied wrongdoing and rejected the commission’s conclusions.
In its latest statement, the club said the commission’s opinion contained “clear material errors” of law, principle and fact and maintained that the decision was unsafe.
City also said it remained confident in its position, stating that it possesses evidence supporting its case, while stressing that it would respect the ongoing legal and regulatory process.
The appeal will now be considered by an independent Appeal Board. According to the Premier League, the appeal proceedings will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted.
Meanwhile, the question of sanctions arising from the commission’s findings has not yet been finally determined. The Premier League has said that the sanctions will be considered separately by the independent commission, with possible measures under the league’s rules including financial and sporting sanctions.
The case, which began with the Premier League’s investigation in December 2018, remains ongoing as Manchester City challenges the findings of the independent commission.
