# Manchester City Appeal After Guilty Verdict

> Manchester City appeal guilty verdict over £830m financial breaches.
- Title: Manchester City Appeal After Guilty Verdict · BBC Sport
- Summary: Manchester City appeal guilty verdict over £830m financial breaches. Manchester City have appealed a guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial…
- Keywords: manchester city, premier league, abu dhabi government, etihad airways, financial regulations, appeal, sham contracts, unpaid tax, sports, Manchester, City, Guilty
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqn7470513n0o
- Published: 2026-10-02T08:50:24.376+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: manchester city, premier league, abu dhabi government, etihad airways, financial regulations, appeal, sham contracts, unpaid tax, sports
## Manchester City confirm appeal
Manchester City have confirmed they lodged an appeal after an independent commission found the club guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations.
## Club claims errors in ruling
The club stated the commission's ruling contained 'clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe'.

> clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe
## Club files evidence
Manchester City added they filed 'a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence [that] exists in support of all of its positions'.

> a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence [that] exists in support of all of its positions
## FA statements on verdict
The Football Association said the verdict against City has 'significant implications for the integrity of the game'.

> significant implications for the integrity of the game
## FA monitoring developments
The FA added they are carefully considering the decision and will take action where appropriate, but will monitor developments closely.
## City guilty of 114 charges
Manchester City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges against them between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

> 114 of the 115 charges
## City's appeal argument
City will claim key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government, not the club's owners, as part of a disguised funding scheme.
## Etihad Airways response
Etihad Airways stated the assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Manchester City's sponsorship is false, claiming it funded the sponsorship from its own liquidity.

> The assertion that the Abu Dhabi government paid for Etihad's sponsorship of English Premier League football club Manchester City is false
## Sham contracts found
The independent panel found City arranged 'sham contracts' with commercial partners to disguise secret funding of more than £830m.

> sham contracts
## Key takeaway

Manchester City have appealed a guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial rules by £830m in disguised funding.