Man City confirm appeal and challenge Premier League 'clear errors' after FA statement

Manchester City have been found guilty on the majority of the Premier League charges they were slapped with in 2023, and have now confirmed their appeal against the independent commission's decision

Manchester City have filed an appeal against the independent panel's verdict on violations of the Premier League's financial regulations. The English top flight issued an official statement on Tuesday afternoon, confirming that the club had been found guilty on the majority of the charges brought against them in 2023.

A statement read: "An independent Commission has found Manchester City FC guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period, and the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League's investigation."

City had until Friday, 2nd October to contest the ruling - with the club now confirming that they have exercised that right. A statement from the club read: "Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 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 added: "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."

It comes as little surprise that the club have challenged the independent panel's findings, given their consistent proclamations of innocence regarding the alleged violations - said to have occurred between 2009 and 2018 - since the charges were first levelled against them three years ago. According to the Premier League, City have been found to have 'artificially inflate' revenues and reduce costs by more than £900million over a nine-year period, to "appear to comply with financial rules."

The commission determined that the club submitted "misstated accounts and concealed the true state of its finances."

Consequently, City could face severe sanctions if their appeal proves unsuccessful. While supporters and experts across the globe have speculated about potential punishments including fines, transfer bans and points deductions, the club also risks having titles won during the period of alleged breaches rescinded, and even relegation down the football pyramid.

The FA issued a statement of their own on Friday, saying: "The Independent Commission’s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game.

"We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate. As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely."

Former City chairman David Bernstein, meanwhile, believes that the club's current ownership should step down from their positions. He told talkSPORT: "I can't think of a sanction severe enough for this, honestly. It's absolutely terrible..

"I want to raise another issue, and that's the stance of the board of directors. Because the club's directors, including the CEO, who has been in the position for years and has lived through this entire period, are responsible for the club's operations in every respect.

"If this were a public company, I believe that the directors, faced with a matter as serious as this, would have to resign or be suspended pending the outcome of all this...appeal or no appeal.

"I don't think the current board can continue credibly. What credibility can a board of directors have that has been involved in systematic abuses for a long period?"

Jamie Carragher has also weighed in, demanding that City either prove their innocence or accept the consequences. He told Sky Sports: "The club are going to get punished.. For me, this is all about the owners. I don't know how the owners can continue in English football.

"We talk about the fit and proper test for owners, what they have done over ten years now in the Premier League and this stain that will be there for the next ten years about 'did they win it really, was that fair?

"This all starts with Manchester City and it starts because they do not like the word 'no'. When the rules came in, it's in the emails: 'We can do what we want'.

"And when you see the statements in the last couple of days, the one from [Ferran] Soriano last night, it actually beggars belief what you are watching and hearing here. Until they move away from the club, I don't know how this stain is ever removed from the club. I just don't see how the ownership can continue after what has happened here and the way they are actually reacting to it.

"How can they be surprised, and that they have got irrefutable evidence? Where is it? Put it out there, surely.

"If you have irrefutable evidence of something and you are getting charged by the police, you hand it to them because you want this over with as quickly as possible. City have almost dragged this on, kicking the can down the road."

No sanctions will be imposed on City until the appeals process has concluded, with the Premier League keen to push the investigation forward as swiftly as possible. For the time being, it seems football supporters will need to wait considerably longer before City's fate is finally determined.