NEWS · 30 Sep 2026
Man City found guilty of sham contracts and £830m disguised funding scheme
The Premier League has confirmed that Manchester City are guilty of all charges relating to breaches of its financial rules between 2009‑10 and 2017‑18. The club is accused of using sham contracts and an £830m disguised funding scheme to circumvent spending limits.
The Premier League's disciplinary committee has delivered a verdict that Manchester City violated the league's financial regulations over an eight‑year period, covering the 2009‑10 to 2017‑18 seasons.
Central to the allegations are the use of ‘sham’ contracts, which the club is said to have employed to hide player wages and other costs. The club is also accused of running an £830 million disguised funding scheme to fund its spending.
The findings confirm that the club deliberately circumvented the league's financial fair play rules, which are designed to keep clubs operating within the limits of their revenues.
As a result of the guilty verdict, Manchester City will face disciplinary action from the Premier League. The exact sanctions have not yet been announced but are expected to include fines, points deductions or other penalties.
The club may appeal the decision, and the case will be closely watched as it could set a precedent for how the Premier League enforces its financial rules in the future.