UAE-owned Manchester City found guilty of financial rules breach, report says

The UAE-owned Manchester City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 financial charges it faces for breaching financial rules, the Athletic reported, an outcome that could send shockwaves through English soccer and potentially sour UAE-UK relations.

City was charged by the Premier League in 2023 following an investigation into alleged breaches between 2009 and 2018.

It was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of financial sustainability rules.

According to the Athletic, no sanction had yet been decided and City is set to appeal. But the BBC reported that the punishment decided by the panel will be released before any appeal is completed.

If found guilty, City are looking at a points deduction serious enough to relegate them, large fines or, in the worst-case scenario, even expulsion from the Premier League.