Manchester City lodge appeal against Premier League commission's guilty verdict
· Published · 2 min read
City filed with the Chair of the Judicial Panel on Thursday evening. The Premier League confirmed the appeal on Friday; the Appeal Board hearing stays private until an outcome is published.
Manchester City have appealed the independent Commission's decision that the club breached Premier League rules, the league confirmed in a statement on Friday, 2 October. The appeal was lodged with the Chair of the Judicial Panel, and the league said the independent Appeal Board hearing "will remain private and confidential until publication of the outcome is permitted."
Sky Sports reports the appeal was filed at 7pm on Thursday, 1 October. The Commission had found City guilty of charges covering the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons, including arranging sham contracts with commercial partners as part of what it described as a disguised funding scheme that inflated revenues by £830 million. Three of four failure-to-cooperate breaches were upheld, with one not proven.
City maintain their innocence. The club's statement reads: "The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions."
What happens next
No sanction has been announced. According to Sky Sports, the appeal must conclude within 12 weeks, the hearing is limited to five days in one continuous block, and the Appeal Board then has 30 days to deliver its judgment, which points to a decision around the turn of the year. City may argue that the accelerated procedure should not apply to their case, which could push the timeline into 2027.
Why markets are waiting
Until a sanction is decided there is nothing for title or relegation markets to price beyond the uncertainty itself. The variable that matters for bettors is timing: a ruling confirmed in January would land mid-season, while a process that runs into 2027 might not touch this campaign's table at all.
- The appeal was lodged at 7pm on Thursday, 1 October, and confirmed by the Premier League on Friday, 2 October.
- The commission's findings cover the 2009/10 to 2017/18 seasons; no sanction has been announced.
- Sky Sports reports the appeal must conclude within 12 weeks, with a five-day hearing and 30 days for the panel to rule.
Sources
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