Manchester City have confirmed they will appeal an independent commission’s decision that found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
In a short statement, City said the commission’s ruling contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact” and described the decision as “unsafe”.
Jasmaine Kennedy tells us more.
The club maintained its innocence and said it had filed a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” in support of its position when the appeal was lodged on Thursday evening.
The appeal follows the commission’s ruling, confirmed on Tuesday, that City breached Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
The Football Association has also indicated that the verdict could have wider consequences for English football.
In a statement on Friday, the governing body said the decision had “significant implications for the integrity of the game” and confirmed it was considering the ruling and its implications.
The FA has wider regulatory powers and could potentially launch its own investigation, which could result in further sanctions.
City were expected to argue during their appeal that key sponsorship agreements were funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club’s owners.
The independent commission found that City had arranged what it described as “sham contracts” with several commercial partners as part of an alleged scheme to conceal more than 830-million pounds in secret funding.
City’s appeal will now begin the next stage of the long-running dispute, with the club continuing to reject the allegations and challenge the commission’s findings.
