Manchester City face scrutiny over £830m in falsely recorded revenue
An independent commission has revealed serious financial breaches by Manchester City.
Sheikh Mansour's takeover of Manchester City in September 2008 marked a significant turning point for the club, which had only two top-flight titles in its 114-year history. At the time, City had just finished the 2007/08 season in ninth place, 32 points behind rivals Manchester United, and had suffered a humiliating 8-1 defeat to Middlesbrough. This period of struggle was a stark contrast to the club's subsequent rise to prominence in English football.
Following the takeover, Manchester City underwent a remarkable transformation, winning three Premier League titles during the nine-year period under investigation by the Premier League. This surge in success has been attributed to significant financial investment, allowing City to emerge as a formidable force in the league, a status previously dominated by Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal.
However, the independent commission's findings revealed serious breaches of financial regulations, including the use of
sham
contracts with commercial partners and the artificial inflation of revenues by £830m. These allegations have led to calls for potential sanctions against the club, including fines, transfer bans, and even expulsion from the Premier League. City has denied any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the commission's decision, asserting that the investigation is unfounded. The commission's report highlights a
via Sky Sports