UEFA monitoring Man City case as Premier League appeal looms
UEFA is monitoring developments and will wait until the end of the Premier League's disciplinary process before deciding whether to take any potential action against Manchester City. The club has appealed after being found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018.
- What: UEFA monitoring Man City case; will wait for Premier League process to conclude before deciding on potential action.
- Why: City found guilty by independent commission of breaking Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018, including five charges of failing to comply with UEFA's FFP rules.
- Key finding: Owners put in £830m and disguised it as sponsorship income for nine seasons.
- Appeal: City lodged appeal on Thursday at 7pm and maintain they have a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence which will clear their name.
- Timeline: Appeal must be done and dusted in 12 weeks, taking it into the week before Christmas.
What was said
"The appeal went in on Thursday at 7pm and so, according to the Premier League's rules, the appeal has to be done and dusted in 12 weeks from then, which takes us into the week before Christmas."
"The appeal can only last five days and those five days can only be in one block."
"The appeal panel, which has to be a different three-person panel from the original panel, would have 30 days to make up their minds and deliver their judgement. That would take you into the third week of January."
"Now that is the speeded-up timeline which has been introduced into the Premier League's rules this season."
"Now, Man City could argue that this speeded-up timeline should not apply in this case because this case has been going on for years and this new rule has only been introduced this season. That is something to look out for."
"Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League commission, that has been published today."
"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."
The numbers
- £830m – Owners' investment disguised as sponsorship income over nine seasons.
- £49m – Fine from 2014 UEFA settlement agreement (£32m suspended).
- €30m (£25.4m) – 2020 UEFA fine, reduced to €10m (£8.5m) by CAS.
- 2 years – European competition ban in 2020, overturned by CAS.
- 12 weeks – Maximum duration from appeal lodgement to conclusion under new rules.
- 5 days – Maximum length of appeal hearing, in one block.
- 30 days – Time for appeal panel to deliver judgement after hearing.
- 100+ – Premier League regulations breached.
Injury and availability
No injury or availability details are reported in the source.
Why Man City's appeal could drag into 2027
Manchester City's appeal could drag on into next year if they argue that the process should not be run according to Premier League rules which were introduced for this season. City have filed their appeal and the new rules about appeals state that this part of the disciplinary process has to be concluded within 12 weeks and the appeal hearing can last no longer than five days.
City's lawyers could argue that they were charged in 2023 and a hearing was held in 2024 - when the rules about a speeded-up appeals process were not in the Premier League Handbook. A legal expert told Sky Sports News Manchester City would have a strong case for arguing that the new rules should not apply in this case. The new rules were introduced to ensure that clubs, where possible, were punished in the same season as relevant rule breaches.
UEFA's case was triggered by hacked City emails which were published by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018. City said the internal documents were "out-of-context materials purportedly hacked or stolen" as part of an "organised and clear attempt to damage the club's reputation".
Talking points
- Should UEFA wait for the Premier League process or launch its own investigation immediately? The source says UEFA is monitoring but will wait.
- Will City succeed in arguing the new 12-week appeal timeline should not apply? A legal expert told Sky Sports News they have a strong case.
- The independent commission found the Abu Dhabi government funding explanation was "concocted well after the event". City are expected to continue contesting this argument.
- CAS previously ruled UEFA had not established disguised funding and time-barred other breaches. Can City repeat that at appeal?
What happens next
Manchester City's appeal was lodged on Thursday at 7pm. Under Premier League rules, the appeal must be concluded within 12 weeks, taking it into the week before Christmas. The appeal hearing can last no longer than five days in one block. The appeal panel, a different three-person panel from the original, then has 30 days to deliver its judgement, which would take it into the third week of January.
Frequently asked questions
Is UEFA going to punish Manchester City?
UEFA is monitoring developments and will wait until the end of the Premier League's disciplinary process before deciding whether to take any potential action against Manchester City.
When will Manchester City's appeal be heard?
The appeal was lodged on Thursday at 7pm. It must be concluded within 12 weeks, taking it into the week before Christmas. The hearing can last no longer than five days in one block, and the panel then has 30 days to deliver judgement.
What did the independent commission find?
Manchester City arranged "sham" contracts with commercial partners as part of a "disguised funding scheme" to artificially inflate revenues by £830m. The club filed accounts that concealed its true finances and broke "well over 100" Premier League regulations.
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