Man City lodge appeal as three-person board set to rule on verdict
Manchester City have formally appealed against the independent commission's ruling that found them guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules, setting in motion the next chapter of the most significant disciplinary case in the league's history.
Appeal lodged a day early
In a statement published on Friday, City confirmed that they lodged what they called a comprehensive appeal at 7pm on Thursday, October 1, a day ahead of the deadline. The club has previously described the commission's decision as unsafe and said it contains material errors of law, principle and fact.
The Premier League confirmed that the appeal had been lodged with the chair of its judicial panel and said the hearing will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted.
Who will hear the appeal?
According to the Premier League's own explanation of the rules, appeals are heard by an Appeal Board appointed by the chair of the judicial panel. The board must have three members, one of whom must have held judicial office and will act as its chair.
The board has wide discretion. It can allow the appeal, dismiss it, or make any other order it considers appropriate, including changing the original commission's decision.
The timetable
Under Premier League rules, the appeal hearing should take place within 12 weeks of the appeal being lodged, with a decision due within 30 days of the hearing ending. If that schedule holds, City and the rest of the league could have an answer by early 2027.
The separate question of sanctions remains open. The league has said punishment will be dealt with at a further hearing, and the rules allow for penalties ranging from fines and points deductions to other sporting sanctions.
What City were found guilty of
Last Tuesday, the independent commission found that between 2009-10 and 2017-18, City used sham sponsorship contracts as part of a disguised funding scheme that inflated the club's revenues by £830 million. It also found that the club filed misstated accounts and significantly breached both Premier League and UEFA spending limits.
The case dates back to an investigation the Premier League opened in December 2018, with charges first announced in February 2023. City have denied wrongdoing throughout and insist they have irrefutable evidence to support their position.
Business as usual on the pitch
While the legal battle continues, the football does too. According to Al Jazeera, City are top of the Premier League and will be chasing a sixth straight league win when they visit Liverpool on October 11, the first match after the international break.
For now, the verdict stands, the appeal is pending, and the punishment is unknown. It is a combination that is likely to hang over the title race for months to come.
Photo: Cléria De Souza / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0