An independent commission ruled that Manchester City breached financial regulations, including failing to disclose full remuneration details for a former manager.

The Premier League has released an independent commission’s decision finding Manchester City guilty of multiple financial rule breaches. The ruling highlights that the club failed to include a significant portion of a former manager's remuneration in his official employment contract, instead utilizing a separate consultancy agreement to manage payments.

Details of the Managerial Contract Breach

The commission determined that Manchester City violated Premier League Rules P.7 and P.8, which mandate the full disclosure of head coach employment terms. According to the findings, £8.866 million in payments were funneled through a consultancy agreement involving third parties rather than being recorded in the manager's contract. The funds were provided by ADUG, the Abu Dhabi entity that owns the club. The commission described these underlying agreements as a "sham" and concluded that the club intentionally sought to circumvent league regulations over the course of four seasons.

Commission Findings and Club Response

The commission’s report clarifies that the findings are directed at the club rather than any individual, and the manager’s name is redacted throughout the document. While former manager Roberto Mancini recently stated that he did not believe the club was found guilty, the commission’s official decision explicitly states that the charges were proven to the requisite standard. Manchester City is expected to appeal the decision, and specific sanctions have not yet been determined.