After a four-year investigation, the English Premier League (EPL) authorities have charged Manchester City with hundreds of violations of Financial Fair Play (FFP). If the allegations are proved true, the citizens will be punished severely.
British media BBC confirmed this in a report on Monday (06 February).
They said that between 2009 and 2018, the league authorities have accused Man City of more than 100 financial irregularities. They also accused the club of not cooperating with the ongoing investigation since 2018.
The Premier League said in a statement that City breached its financial transparency policy by not providing accurate information about the club's income and expenditure. Which included club revenue, sponsorship income and operating expenses.
The club has been accused of rigging the remuneration paid to former coach Roberto Mancini in the 2009-10, 2012-13 seasons and players' remuneration in the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons.
City have also been accused of breaching UEFA's 'Financial Fair Play' rules for the 2013-14 to 2017-18 season and the Premier League's 'Financial Fair Play' rules for the 2015-16 to 2017-18 season.
UEFA, however, handed City a two-year ban in 2020 after being accused of financial irregularities between 2012 and 2016. However, that same year the club appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports to lift the ban.
But in 2018, when German-based media outlet Der Spiegel published information that City had rigged the sponsorship deal, UEFA came under investigation again.
Abu Dhabi United Group bought ownership of City in 2008. And the investigation has also started since then. If the allegations are not proven false, the citizens will be punished severely. A team in the race for the league title may be deducted points like Italian club Juventus. Of course, they will be deprived of the league title, even with participation in the next Champions League season. There will also be huge financial penalties.
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