Manchester City guilty of breaking financial rules, sources say

One of the UK's most successful football clubs, Manchester City, has been found guilty of breaking more than 100 financial rules, according to sources.

The charges, or accusations, against the club are about events from between 2009 and 2018.

The Premier League, whose job it is to make sure clubs in England follow the rules, carried out a four year investigaton into the club.

An independent comission, separate from the league and City - looked at this evidence and according to sports news source, The Athletic, have found City guilty of 114 charges against them.

In 2018 German newspaper Der Spiegel suggested that Manchester City had broken financial fair play rules.

These rules are designed to keep competition fair and make sure no one club unfairly dominates the league.

In 2023, after four years of investigation, the Premier League charged Manchester City with breaking a number of these rules between 2009-2018, more than 100 times.

During those years City won three Premiere League titles, the FA cup and three league cups.

The accusations included;

Man City failing to cooperate with the Premier League investigation into the club's finances.

The club failing to provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position" and "details for player and manager payments" from 2009-10 to 2017-18.

BBC Sport's Harry Hansen said that if they did do this it would mean City "had more money to spend on transfer deals (players) and coaches".

City said "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality."

Premier League has declined to comment.