Manchester City reportedly offered a fine to avoid Premier League sanctions

Manchester City is negotiating secretly with the Premier League over its historic case, according to reports. Bloomberg reports that the club’s leadership proposed a substantial financial fine to avoid sanctions that could include administrative relegation or the removal of some titles. The proposal remains a reported offer, not a confirmed decision.

Press reports, including Marca citing Bloomberg, say the discussions took place before the independent commission announced its decision. They did not result in an agreement. The Premier League reportedly rejected the offer, and the disciplinary process is continuing while Manchester City’s appeal is awaited.

The independent commission concluded that the club was guilty of 114 of the 115 financial breaches it had been accused of, relating to the period from 2009 to 2018. It also found that Manchester City had overstated its revenue by more than £900 million, or about $1.2 billion, through sponsorship agreements described as fictitious during the investigations. The commission said the arrangements were intended to conceal the true source of funding and bypass financial rules.

Manchester City disputes the accusations and has announced an appeal, saying the decision contains fundamental errors of law, principle and fact. The appeal’s outcome therefore remains crucial to what happens next in the case.