Manchester City held secret Premier League talks over financial case

Manchester City held confidential discussions with the Premier League about settling its long-running financial case, according to reports, but negotiations broke down without an agreement.

The club is understood to have proposed paying a substantial fine in return for avoiding sporting sanctions, including the possible removal of titles and administrative relegation. The talks took place before the announcement of a decision which found Manchester City guilty of most of the charges against it.

The details were reported by Bloomberg and published by Spanish newspaper Marca. The proposed settlement was rejected by the Premier League, meaning the disciplinary process continued and Manchester City proceeded with its appeal.

An independent commission found the club had breached 114 of the 115 financial rules it was accused of breaking. The alleged offences relate to the period between 2009 and 2018.

Manchester City denies the allegations and has challenged the commission’s decision. The club said the ruling contained fundamental errors in law, principle and fact.

The outcome of the appeal is expected to be decided in February, according to the report. The possible sanctions will then depend on the conclusion of the appeal process.

Details of the case

The charges concern nine seasons, from 2009-10 through to 2017-18. The independent commission concluded that Manchester City overstated its revenues by more than £900m, equivalent to about $1.2bn, through sponsorship agreements described by the investigation as fictitious.

The arrangements were alleged to have been used to conceal the true sources of the club’s funding and to bypass financial regulations.

The commission also found that Manchester City submitted financial accounts which did not reflect its actual position. It concluded that the club had failed to comply with spending limits imposed by the Premier League and UEFA, while also identifying alleged breaches linked to the club’s co-operation with the investigation.

If the decision is upheld on appeal, the potential penalties range from significant financial fines and a points deduction to administrative relegation. The status of Manchester City’s titles could also remain in question while the case continues.

The club has maintained its opposition to the allegations throughout the proceedings and is relying on its appeal as the next stage in the dispute.