FA BREAKS SILENCE MANCHESTER CITY GUILTY VERDICT AS 'INTEGRITY' CONCERNS ROCK PREMIER LEAGUE

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The Football Association has officially broken its silence following the seismic news of Manchester City being found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial regulations. In a damning assessment of the situation, the governing body suggested that the scale of the rule-breaking has left a permanent stain on the sport's reputation.

Massive financial breaches uncovered

An independent commission recently concluded that Manchester City utilised over £830 million in disguised funding to artificially inflate club revenues. This elaborate financial scheme was designed to bypass stringent regulations set by both the Premier League and UEFA.

The 40-page ruling, published on Tuesday, detailed how the club orchestrated a series of 'sham' arrangements to circumvent the rules. City executives argued that financial assistance originated from the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court (CPC) to help sponsors meet their obligations, rather than directly from owner Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG).

However, the commission vehemently rejected this defence. They dismissed the club's narrative entirely, labelling the CPC explanation as definitively 'untrue' and exposing the elaborate nature of the financial concealment. Explaining their rejection of City's defence, the panel stated: "We concluded that it was an 'explanation' that the club had concocted well after the event in an attempt to obscure and conceal the realities of the disguised funding scheme."

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FA promises potential action

In response to the ruling, the Football Association released a resolute statement addressing the severity of the situation. The governing body made it clear they are watching the fallout closely and refused to rule out their own disciplinary measures.

"The Independent Commission's decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game," the FA's official statement read. "We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate."

Acknowledging the ongoing legal battle, the organisation added: "As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely."

Sponsors and owners intertwined

The ripple effects of the guilty verdict are already extending beyond the Etihad Stadium boardroom. Central to the controversy are the club's key commercial partners, whose financial dealings have been placed firmly under the microscope during the investigation.

Etihad Airways, City's primary sponsor, is now weighing up legal retaliation against the Premier League. The airline is owned by an Abu Dhabi investment fund chaired by Sheikh Mansour's brother, highlighting the deeply intertwined relationships that the independent commission scrutinised.

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Looming appeal deadline

Manchester City now face a race against time to mount their legal pushback. The club have already confirmed their intention to fight the charges, with Friday, October 2 marking the strict deadline to formally submit their appeal.

The upcoming legal battle will undoubtedly centre on the origins of the sponsor funding and the rejected CPC defence. Until the appeal process reaches a conclusion, the shadow of potential FA action will continue to hang over the English champions.

- Muhammad Zaki

AESENE 'LE PROFESSEUR' WENGER GAVE OUT A WARNING IN 2009

 

LIVERPOOL LEGEND COULD BE ABOUT TO LOSE TITLES AFTER MSN CITY GUILTY VERDICT

Some former Liverpool players are already expecting Premier League titles to come their way after Manchester City was found guilty of almost all its 115 charges, but the verdict could be bad news for one Reds legend

James Milner could lose some of his Premier League medals if Manchester City is stripped of its titles(Image: Getty Images)

While Manchester City being found guilty of the charges brought against it by the Premier League might end up being good news for some Liverpool players of the past, for one Reds legend, it could mean his trophy cabinet takes a major hit.

According to reports, City has been found guilty on almost all of the charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations following an independent hearing, which concluded at the end of 2024.

That could lead to a serious punishment, with all manner of sanctions on the table from fines to relegation, and the possibility that the club could be stripped of some of its titles.

According to The Athletic, City has been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges, but while no sanctions have been handed down yet, the club is expected to appeal.

That could therefore delay any potential punishments being handed out - not that it’ll stop some players from dreaming.

Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has already declared himself a champion after news of the guilty verdict broke on Friday, and Reds fans will be hoping that Steven Gerrard will finally get the league title he craved throughout his career.

One Liverpool legend, though, could actually end up losing two of his winners’ medals should City be stripped of any of its titles.

James Milner was, of course, part of the Liverpool squad that won the 2020 Premier League title, just a year after lifting the Champions League. Before that, though, he had already got his hands on a couple of league crowns while playing for City.

The former midfielder, who retired from playing earlier this year, was part of the City squad which won the 2011/12 title, with Sergio Aguero’s last-gasp goal on the final day seeing the club pip Manchester United to top spot.

Just two years later, Milner was celebrating again as City beat Liverpool to the 2013/14 title by two points, with Brendan Rodgers’ side running out of steam by the end of the campaign.

Both of those titles, along with the 2017/18 title, fall within the nine-year period that has been under investigation over the past few years, and although he joined Liverpool on a free transfer in 2015, that means Milner could end up losing two of the three league titles he won during his career.

It’s unlikely that Milner will have to give up his titles anytime soon, with City expected to appeal the guilty verdict, having maintained its innocence throughout the process.

A City spokesperson told The Athletic: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence."

- James Findlater 

 

'EVERYONE WANTS CLARITY' OVER MAN CITY CHARGES, SAYS ARSENAL CHIEF

Richard Garlick became Arsenal's chief executive in September 2025. Getty Images 

Everyone in the Premier League wants clarity and a speedy resolution in the case against Manchester City which features more than 100 alleged breaches of its financial rules, says Arsenal chief executive Richard Garlick.

An independent commission is yet to publish a ruling, more than a year and a half after a disciplinary hearing concluded, and three and a half years since City were first charged.

City have always denied wrongdoing.

When asked if the length of time the process was taking was frustrating Arsenal, Garlick told BBC Sport: "It has gone on for a while.

"Everybody - the league and the teams - would want the clarity around what's going to happen next.

"But it's not something that I can control. It's not something that I can speculate on.

"And I just hope that there is a solution very quickly."

Garlick's comments come on the eve of the new season and after Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "I do accept it's taking longer than expected, and I understand that people want to find out as soon as possible what's going on, but I simply can't provide that."

Describing the case as "hugely complex", Masters added: "Our rules are very clear - we have to follow the process, and there's only one real clear route through, which is to allow that process to reach its natural conclusion."

Privately, officials at a host of other Premier League clubs BBC Sport has spoken to in the past 24 hours have also expressed their frustrations, while acknowledging that this is an independent process which is running on its own timetable.

One said the Premier League should be "actively seeking to put in place a better system" to ensure speedier resolutions.

Another made the point that given that the league spent £45m on legal bills during the 2023–24 season on disputes over its financial regulations, there are mounting concerns at the spiralling costs of such a long legal fight.

The charges City are contesting relate to the:

• alleged failure to provide accurate financial information, including details for player and manager payments, from 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons

• alleged failure to comply with Uefa's financial fair play (FFP) rules from 2013-14 to 2017-18

• alleged breaches of Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

City also face multiple charges that they failed to co-operate with the Premier League's investigation between December 2018 and February 2023.

Champions Arsenal were Premier League runners-up to City in both 2023 and in 2024 when they were beaten by just two points.

Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly served legal notices on City in 2024 reserving the right to seek compensation if the club are found guilty, with some said to have estimated potential losses of more than £100m.

They may also have been encouraged by Everton being told in June that they must pay Burnley £35m in compensation over the impact of a breach of the Premier League's financial rules.

Analysis

While most would argue that Garlick is simply articulating how almost everyone in English football feels about the length of time this saga has hung over the Premier League, it is still rare for a senior figure at a top club to break ranks and say anything publicly about the case.

Last year, the former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said it had gone on for "far too long", but until now that was an isolated intervention.

It is no surprise that City's rivals are frustrated.

The club has spent £151m so far this summer transfer window, including a club record £116m for England midfielder Elliot Anderson.

They have also spent almost £700m on new players since being charged in February 2023, and have won six major trophies in that time.

Meanwhile, they - and other clubs - remain in limbo.

Are Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri for sale?

Meanwhile, Garlick insists Arsenal are not actively seeking to sell homegrown talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly or Ethan Nwaneri, but that the Premier League champions would "consider" the "right opportunity" for both the players and the club.

Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri - both 19 years old - have been linked with summer moves away, including to rival clubs in the Premier League.

Their 'homegrown' status, having progressed through the ranks at Arsenal, means any sale would allow the club to book pure profit in its accounts, helping balance the financials in a year when the Premier League moves to a new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rule of spending controls.

The new rules mean clubs can spend 85% of their revenues on fees, wages and contracts but the number drops to 70% for clubs competing in Europe.

When asked if the club needed to sell players to help comply, Garlick said: "Every club now has adopted a player-trading model. The way in which football is and the fees involved, it makes sense for you to trade players and to generate revenues through those sales.

"I won't say it's a necessity, but it's only a matter of good housekeeping that you do look at those opportunities when they arise, and as long as they're right for the club, then that's something that we will explore."

When asked if he wanted Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri to stay at Arsenal, he said: "I can't stop other clubs being interested. Myles had a fantastic end to last season and has started this one really well. We're very, very happy with him.

"Ethan has had a great pre-season as well and it's just a case of looking at what opportunities there are that will help both of those in terms of their career moving forward.

"We are not actively looking at selling those homegrown players but if the right opportunity came up - right for them and the club - we'd obviously consider that."

Despite signing Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal have tried and failed to bring in Vinicius Jr and missed out on Morgan Rogers this summer in what has been a muddled transfer window, but Garlick remains hopeful of further additions "that are going to improve the club".

"As you are competing for Premier League titles or Champions League trophies, you need to bring in a certain calibre of player. And I think that that pool of players is smaller now than maybe it was a few years ago," he said.

"We've got a really competitive squad and if the opportunity came again in the next couple of weeks for us to add a player that's going to improve Arsenal, then we will look at that."

Garlick also expressed confidence around the contract status of manager Mikel Arteta, with the title-winning manager into the final 12 months of his current deal.

"Mikel wants to be at Arsenal, we want Mikel at Arsenal," he said.

"It's only a matter of time before we put that into a new contract. Everyone is confident and calm. We're just navigating a transfer window and I'm sure Mikel's contract will be resolved shortly."

- Dan Roan