Manchester City Files Appeal After Being Found Guilty of Premier League Financial Breaches

Manchester City announced Friday that they filed an appeal regarding the English Premier League's determination that they were guilty of more than 100 charges related to financial violations.

"Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, the club lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter," the statement read. "The Club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.

"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."

The Premier League announced Tuesday that it had found Manchester City guilty of numerous breaches of the league's financial rules, alleging that the club misled the Premier League regarding its financial situation in myriad ways, including devising "sham" contracts with commercial partners.

As part of their findings, the Premier League noted that the violations in question occurred from 2009 to 2018 and saw Manchester City artificially inflate their commercial revenue by £830 million, which equates to $1.08 billion.

The Premier League has to announce any punishments against Manchester City, and that may continue to be the case as the appeals process plays out.

Manchester City is one of the most successful clubs in Premier League history with 10 titles in English soccer's top division.

Their greatest dominance occurred from 2014 until the present day with eight of their Premier League championships being won from 2014 to 2024.

City won four titles in a row from 2021 to 2024, and six out of seven from 2018 to 2024.

The Sky Blues also won their only UEFA Champions League title during that stretch, accomplishing that feat in 2023.

While City fell short of Premier League titles each of the past two seasons, they remain top contenders, as they finished third in 2025 and second in 2026.

Through five matches this season, Manchester City sit atop the Premier League standings with 15 points thanks to five wins, no losses and no draws.