The Premier League has announced that Manchester City has been found guilty on all charges related to serious breaches of the league's financial rules.
The news was initially reported on Friday, Sept. 25, with the league itself confirming the reports in a lengthy statement on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
An independent commission found that City was guilty of all charges related to the league's financial rules over a nine-season period, from the 2009-10 campaign through 2017-18.
Additionally, City was found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to the club's failure to cooperate with the investigation.
City has until Friday, Oct. 2 to submit an appeal, which the club has said it will do.
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“The core decision establishes
the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade," Premier League CEO Richard Masters said in a statement.
“It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently."
He added: “This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the league, our clubs and fans.”
What are the charges against Man City?
According to the Premier League, Manchester City engaged in both "sham contracts" and "sham commercial deals" which were meant to artificially inflate the club's revenues and reduce its costs.
The league said the deception was valued at more than £900 million ($1.19 billion) during the affected period.
What could Man City's punishment be?
Pending appeal, City will almost certainly be facing major sanctions. Many potential punishments are on the table, including points deductions, relegation, financial penalties and even stripping the club of titles.
The league said that the independent commission would have an additional hearing to address the issue of a punishment.
"Now that the charges have been proved, the issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing with the independent commission," the league's statement said.
"In accordance with Premier League rules, that hearing will remain private and confidential until such a time as publication of the outcome is permitted."
No timetable for a punishment was given, though the league said it was hoping the entire process would be concluded swiftly.
"The Premier League Board’s intention is that the full process (including any appeals and publication of relevant decisions) is concluded as soon as possible," the league said.
Manchester City statement denies charges
Immediately after the Premier League released its verdict, City said it would file an appeal and, if necessary, be "relentless" in its desire to prove its innocence.
“Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today," a club statement read.
"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. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted.
"Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.
"The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
"The club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manchester City guilty of all charges related to financial rule violations
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