Premier League Issues its Verdict on the Manchester City Saga: The Football Association Premier League Limited v. Manchester City Club Limited

The Football Association Premier League Limited v. Manchester City Club Limited

Date of the decision: 2026-09-30

On 30 September 2026, the Independent Commission responsible for determining whether the English side of Manchester City had breached the relevant national financial fair play rules found that the club had entered into sham contracts with its Emirati owners as part of a disguised funding scheme that inflated revenues and reduced operating costs.

Facts and Procedure

Initially, the Club enjoyed considerable success in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by leaner times. An inaugural member of the Premier League (PL) in 1992-1993, it was relegated to the third tier for the first time in its history at the end of 1997 -1998 and returned to the Premier League at the end of 2001-2002. By 2008, the Club was loss-making following a sustained period of under-investment. The Club was subsequently acquired by ADUG,^[1] its shareholder (the details of the acquisition are redacted in the attached...

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