Ever since Friday, it has been common knowledge that Manchester City had been found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against it for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules. From the moment that David Ornstein broke the story for The Athletic, clarity was needed surrounding the entire story. That has arrived today with the Premier League announcing the independent commissions findings and reasons why they have come to the conclusion they have. The case against Manchester City, based on the independent commissions findings, is damning, however, Manchester City have come out swinging in response.

Today has seen the Premier League release the independent commissions findings in regards to the 115 case against Manchester City. A snippet of the findings can be seen below, and the full findings can be viewed at the attached link:

The independent Commission found that between Seasons 2009/10 and 2017/18: – Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ contracts (which misrepresented the true agreement between the parties) with a number of its commercial partners, as well as relying on ‘sham’ agreements with others, to artificially inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs. – The club filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances from its auditors and football regulators. – Manchester City was significantly in breach of both the Premier League’s and UEFA’s spending limits. – During the Premier League’s investigation, Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the League (three of the four alleged breaches were upheld).

The independent Commission found that Manchester City arranged ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors during the period, which were part of a disguised funding scheme, whereby those companies were only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees. The remainder was funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club. As part of the scheme, further ‘sham’ arrangements, funded by ADUG, were entered into to enable the club to record lower operating expenses than it actually incurred, as well as a ‘sham’ circular arrangement with Fordham, an entity that purchased the club’s players’ image rights, that was funded by ADUG.

As quick as the Premier League released the independent commissions findings, Manchester City issued their response. Their statement on mancity.com said:

Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.

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. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.

The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.