Manchester City have issued a statement in response to the news they are facing over 100 charges from the Premier League over alleged financial breaches.
The club has been the subject of a four-year investigation, which was delayed by legal challenges. But the Premier League has announced that the alleged breaches have been referred to a commission leaving the club facing a range of potential punishments if found guilty.
However, City says they are "surprised" by the news and say they have provided "extensive engagement" with the Premier League over the investigation. Their statement reiterates they "welcome the review" by an independent commission.
A club statement read: "Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.
"The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all."
The Premier League announced the bombshell news of the investigation by providing details of the specific charges in a lengthy statement on Monday morning. The statement said: “In accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1, the Premier League confirms that it has today referred a number of alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules by Manchester City Football Club to a Commission.”
The league said alleged breaches were committed across nine different seasons beginning in 2009/10 and will now be referred to an independent commission. Should the commission find City guilty of the breaches they could face a potential range of sanctions including expulsion from the top-flight.
The Premier League investigation was opened in March 2019 following leaked documents in relation to City's financial activities being published by the German outlet Der Spiegel.
UEFA banned the club from the Champions League for two seasons in February 2020 because of what the governing body claimed was evidence of City "overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts … between 2012 and 2016” - only for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn their decision upon appeal. City also had a €30m fine reduced to €10m.
City have continuously and strongly denied any wrongdoing and previously described leaked emails linked to the Premier League investigation as taken “out of context” and an “attempt to damage the club's reputation is organised and clear.”
The investigation by an independent commission is expected to take a considerable amount of time given the scale of charges faced. Explaining the process further, the Premier League statement read: "Commissions are independent of the Premier League and member clubs. The members of the Commission will be appointed by the independent Chair of the Premier League Judicial Panel, in accordance with Premier League Rules W.19, W.20 and W.26.
"The proceedings before the Commission will, in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82, be confidential and heard in private. Under Premier League Rule W.82.2, the Commission’s final award will be published on the Premier League’s website.
"This confirmation is made in accordance with Premier League Rule W.82.1. The Premier League will be making no further comment in respect of this matter until further notice."
