Manchester City Lodges Formal Appeal Challenging Premier League 114-Breach Verdict

The club asserts the decision contained material errors of fact and law after being convicted over alleged sham contracts and undisclosed payments.

James Benge · Oct 2, 2026 · 7:28 am ET · 1 min read

Manchester City has officially confirmed that it submitted an appeal against the independent commission’s ruling regarding its 114 breaches of Premier League regulations.

The club was found culpable on all but one of the charges brought against it concerning activities between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The findings included the arrangement of “sham contracts” with commercial partners, the making of off-book payments to players and staff, and a failure to cooperate fully with the Premier League’s investigation.

City has consistently denied the allegations and had until Friday to file its challenge, which has now been lodged. In a statement confirming the submission at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026, the club said: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the club lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.

“The club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe. 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. We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”

Reports indicate the appeal will contend that the sponsorship deals which triggered the sanctions were financed by the Abu Dhabi government, rather than by owner Sheikh Mansour or his ownership vehicle, Abu Dhabi United Group. The initial commission had dismissed this explanation as an argument “concocted well after the event in an attempt to obscure and conceal the realities of the Disguised Funding Scheme.”

Earlier on Friday, the English Football Association issued a statement observing that City’s guilty verdict has “significant implications for the integrity of the game.” The governing body added that it is “carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate”.

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