Manchester City’s guilty verdict communicated to rivals ahead of league
Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur received prior notification about Manchester City’s guilty verdict before it was announced to the remainder of the Premier League, reports BritPanorama.
The communication took place on September 25, as reported by the Telegraph, which indicated that executives from these clubs were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement to access the information.
This early notice stemmed from a legal precaution taken by the quartet two years earlier, where each club independently reserved the right to pursue damages against City should a guilty verdict be reached.
Attempts to establish compensation claims against City were previously hindered, as the timing coincided with a closing six-year limitation window, catalyzed by the exposure of City’s financial dealings by the German outlet Der Spiegel. Other clubs in the league, including Chelsea, did not take similar precautionary measures.
Manchester City was found guilty on all but one of the charges brought against it by an independent commission, which focused on alleged financial misconduct between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. Findings revealed City breached financial rules, receiving substantial sponsorship revenue that was characterized as part of a “disguised funding scheme”.
City recorded approximately £950 million in sponsorship deals with Abu Dhabi-based companies, while a significant portion of this funding originated from the Abu Dhabi United Group, the club’s owner. Despite the ruling, clubs that did not receive prior notice are not barred from pursuing compensation claims moving forward.
On October 1, 2026, Manchester City confirmed that it had lodged an appeal. The club asserted that the commission’s opinion contained clear material errors of law and fact, maintaining its stance of innocence regarding the accusations leveled against it.
As the appeal process unfolds, the Premier League’s provisions state that hearings will occur within a 12-week timeframe, though specifics regarding the timeline and decision-making process remain uncertain.
This ongoing saga around financial scrutiny highlights a recurring theme in football: the complex interplay between governance and the lucrative nature of the game. It serves as a reminder that integrity issues can quickly overshadow the competitive spirit that fans cherish.
