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The Football Association said Friday that a ruling against Manchester City over major financial violations has significant implications for the integrity of soccer and that it is reviewing the decision. An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of artificially inflating its revenue by more than $1 billion over nearly a decade through what the Premier League described as “sham” sponsorship agreements linked to the club’s ownership. The commission found City guilty of all charges involving serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. It also found the club guilty of most of the charges related to its failure to cooperate with the investigation. The FA, the governing body of English soccer, issued its first response to the biggest disciplinary case in Premier League history. “The independent commission's decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game,” the FA said. “We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.” The FA said it would “continue to monitor developments closely” but would not make further comments while the proceedings remain ongoing. Manchester City has said it will appeal the ruling, which was published Tuesday. The deadline for filing the appeal is Friday. The club’s potential punishment will be considered separately in a confidential hearing before the independent commission. Possible sanctions include a fine, points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chairman of Manchester City, has long played a prominent role in the United Arab Emirates, working with world leaders including US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron. Earlier this year, Al Mubarak sat with Trump in Davos and signed the UAE government's agreement to join the US president's Board of Peace. In June, he attended a signing ceremony with Macron at the Palace of Versailles for a business summit. The 50-year-old is also a UAE special envoy to China. He welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to Manchester City when Xi visited England in 2015. Al Mubarak's involvement in international affairs reflects his position within Abu Dhabi's ruling elite. He is the head of the $385 billion Mubadala sovereign wealth fund and serves in several other government and business roles. He advises UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and sits on the boards of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. He also helped develop ties between Abu Dhabi and Formula One before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix joined the F1 calendar. When Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, now a UAE deputy prime minister, bought Manchester City in 2008, Al Mubarak was appointed chairman. Under his leadership, the club transformed from a long-time underachiever into one of Europe's most successful teams. However, an independent Premier League panel has now found that the club broke financial rules during that period. The Premier League said Tuesday that City, which has dominated English soccer over the past 15 seasons, systematically violated financial regulations. The panel said the club used “sham” commercial agreements to conceal more than 830 million pounds ($1.1 billion) in funding from its Abu Dhabi owners between 2009 and 2018. The panel also said some club witnesses gave evidence they knew was untrue. The funds helped finance expensive player transfers and wages, contributing to City's rise as a major European club. Its success brought more prize money, strengthened its global brand and helped attract leading players, including current star striker Erling Haaland. City can appeal the verdict. Reports about the ruling emerged Friday in The Athletic, prompting a response from Al Mubarak the following day. He said the legal process was not over and that the club remained confident it could prove its innocence. “The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club's innocence is just as strong as when this began,” he said. In a rare 2009 interview with The Guardian, Al Mubarak described Manchester City as a representation of Abu Dhabi's values, including loyalty, commitment, discipline, long-term thinking and respect for history. He is also chairman of City Football Group, which owns a global network of 12 clubs, including New York City FC. An economics graduate of Tufts University near Boston, Al Mubarak has held several senior government positions in addition to leading Mubadala. His family has also experienced tragedy in public service. His father, Khalifa Al Mubarak, was a UAE diplomat and ambassador to France. He was assassinated in Paris in February 1984 when Khaldoon was 8. The killing was linked to the Abu Nidal Organization, a militant group that opposed Israel. Gulf media have reported that the UAE's royal family supported and mentored the young Al Mubarak after his father's death. A street in Abu Dhabi was renamed after his father in 2018. Al Mubarak's role at Manchester City also came under scrutiny as UEFA and the Premier League investigated the club's finances. Both major cases were linked to internal club emails and documents obtained by a hacker and whistleblower and later published by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018. UEFA had investigated City in 2014 and 2020. In the 2020 case, the club successfully appealed a two-year Champions League ban. The leaked documents also highlighted Al Mubarak's determination to fight regulatory action. In 2014, as UEFA discussed a possible settlement over a rules violation, City lawyer Simon Cliff wrote in an email that Al Mubarak was prepared to spend 30 million pounds on top lawyers and pursue legal action for years.

Manchester City is facing one of the biggest controversies in English soccer after the Premier League ruled that the club breached almost all of the 115 financial charges brought against it. The league announced the verdict Tuesday after a yearslong investigation into whether City’s Abu Dhabi ownership broke financial rules to help turn the club into one of the world’s most successful teams. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters called the case and verdict “the most significant in Premier League history.” The club could face serious penalties, including a points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League. The sanctions have yet to be decided. Here is a look at the case: How the case beganThe Premier League brought 80 charges against City in February 2023, covering the period from 2009 to 2018, the first nine seasons after the club came under Abu Dhabi ownership. The league accused City of providing inaccurate financial information, overstating sponsorship income from Abu Dhabi and failing to disclose payments made to managers and players. It also accused the club of breaching Premier League and UEFA financial regulations designed to prevent clubs from spending beyond their means. Another 35 charges related to City’s alleged failure to cooperate with the Premier League investigation from December 2018. The case was linked to internal emails published by German outlet Der Spiegel. The material, obtained through the Football Leaks website, allegedly showed attempts to hide the true sources of some of City’s income. What the commission foundThe independent commission ruled that City committed all of the financial breaches relating to 2009-18 and most of the charges involving its failure to cooperate. The findings said City used what the commission called “sham” contracts with commercial partners to hide more than £830 million ($1.1 billion) in funding from its Abu Dhabi owners. The commission also said some witnesses who gave evidence on City’s behalf provided information they knew was untrue. It concluded that the club intended to avoid Premier League rules. City rejects the findingsCity has consistently denied wrongdoing. The club did not challenge the authenticity of the emails published by Der Spiegel but said they were material taken out of context after being hacked or stolen from City Football Group. It described the publication of the material as an attempt to damage its reputation. After the charges were announced in 2023, City said it welcomed an independent investigation and believed there was comprehensive evidence supporting its position. City chief executive Ferran Soriano again rejected the allegations in an internal message to staff, saying the Premier League’s case was based on a false claim that the owners secretly transferred their own money into the club through Abu Dhabi sponsors. In a statement, City called the commission’s findings an “opinion” containing serious errors of law, principle and fact. The club said it would appeal and continue efforts to clear its name. What penalties could City face?The Premier League said punishment will be considered separately by the same independent commission at a confidential hearing. The timing has not been announced. City must first submit its appeal by Friday. Under Premier League rules, possible penalties include a fine, points deduction or expulsion from the league. Everton received a 10-point deduction in 2023 for breaching financial rules during a three-year period. The punishment was later reduced to six points. City faces a much broader set of allegations, including the charge of failing to cooperate with the investigation. City’s appeal would be heard by a three-member Appeal Panel. Sky Sports has reported that the club could also take the case to the High Court in London if it believes the process was unfair or lacked impartiality. City has faced UEFA punishment beforeUEFA previously accused City of overstating sponsorship income to comply with its Financial Fair Play rules, based on the same documents published by Der Spiegel. In 2020, UEFA found the club guilty of serious breaches between 2012 and 2016 and imposed a two-year ban from European competitions. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ban, ruling that some allegations had not been proven and others were time-barred. It instead fined City 10 million euros ($11.3 million) for failing to cooperate with investigators. Possible impact on City and Abu DhabiThe case could have financial consequences beyond any punishment imposed on City. Several rival clubs have reportedly been considering compensation claims, arguing that they suffered because of City’s alleged rule breaches. A recent precedent involved Everton, which was ordered to pay Burnley more than £35 million ($47 million) after Burnley argued that it would have avoided relegation in the 2021-22 season if Everton had received its financial penalty at the time. It remains unclear whether City could be stripped of its Premier League titles. The league’s rules allow the commission to make “such other order as it thinks fit,” potentially leaving that option open. Relegation could also lead to major changes to City’s squad, which includes stars such as Erling Haaland. The findings could also affect the reputation of Abu Dhabi, whose investment in Manchester City has been described by some commentators as part of a broader effort to increase its influence through sports. Former City manager Pep Guardiola, who guided the club to many of its titles, said in 2023 that he would leave if the club’s owners lied to him. “I will be out and you will not be my friend anymore,” Guardiola said.

Manchester City is prepared to challenge the Premier League for months if the club is found guilty of alleged financial breaches in a case that could become one of the biggest scandals in English soccer. Reports on Friday said an independent panel had upheld almost all of the more than 100 financial charges brought against City. The club did not confirm the reported decision, saying its case with the Premier League was still "ongoing." However, City would appeal any guilty verdict, and the process could take several months, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of confidentiality requirements. The Athletic first reported that City had been found guilty of all but one of more than 100 charges brought by the Premier League. The league accused the club in February 2023 of providing misleading financial information over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018. The report said the punishment has not yet been decided and that all options remain open. The BBC also reported the development. In a statement, City said: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality." The club said its position remained unchanged from its previous statements and that it had consistently denied the charges. "City has diligently respected due process for eight years," the club said, adding that it expected the Premier League board and executive to act as an "independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence." If found guilty, City could face a major points deduction, with expulsion from the Premier League among the most severe possible punishments. The Premier League declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Friday. City has repeatedly denied wrongdoing since allegedly hacked emails and documents were published by German magazine Der Spiegel from 2018. The documents allegedly suggested that the club had tried to hide the source of revenue from deals linked to Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi's ruling family bought City in 2008 and oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in spending on some of the world's leading players over the following two decades. City has been one of the most successful teams in English soccer over the past 15 years, winning eight Premier League titles since 2012 and the Champions League in 2023. During the period covered by the charges, from 2009 to 2018, City won the Premier League three times in 2012, 2014 and 2018. The latest reports come after Pep Guardiola stepped down as City's manager at the end of last season following a highly successful period for the club. Guardiola had consistently maintained that City was innocent. "What people accuse us of, we do not agree with what they say," he said in 2023. Spain midfielder Rodri, who played for City from 2019 before joining Barcelona this offseason, also said he believed the club had done nothing wrong. "They always expressed the confidence that they never did something wrong, and we believe in that," Rodri said of City's ownership. "Until the moment they are proved wrong, we believe in the club. I've been there, I know how they work, and how they co-operate." Speaking at Wembley Stadium on Friday, a day before Spain was scheduled to play England in the Nations League, Rodri said City's recent titles could not be taken away. "It is something that is not paid by money, it is paid with effort, with partnership and with being shoulder to shoulder every day," he said. "We had a lot of success over the years, and here in Wembley, so I can tell you everything was deserved and I'm glad I could live one of the best eras of English football." Former Manchester United and England player Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, suggested on X that City's titles should be removed and awarded to the runners-up in the respective seasons. "Another Premier League medal to be added to the cabinet," Ferdinand posted, referring to City's 2012 title ahead of United. The Premier League has financial fair play rules aimed at ensuring clubs largely spend within the limits of their legitimate revenues and that sponsorship deals reflect market value. City had previously faced allegations from UEFA, European soccer's governing body, of overstating sponsorship revenue to comply with its Financial Fair Play regulations. In 2020, UEFA ruled that City had committed "serious breaches" of FFP rules between 2012 and 2016. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned a two-year European competition ban after finding that some allegations were not established or related to matters that were too old to be investigated. The Premier League charges followed a four-year investigation. City was accused of more than 100 breaches, including providing misleading financial information and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

Rayan Cherki scored twice and Erling Haaland also struck two goals as Manchester City cruised to a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Friday, maintaining their perfect start to the Premier League season. Haaland opened the scoring in the 17th minute, heading home to register his first goal of the campaign. City extended their lead early in the second half when Cherki made his way through several Palace defenders before finishing from close range. Palace, however, pulled one back soon after. Yeremy Pino's free kick hit the crossbar and rebounded into the net off the back of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Cherki quickly restored City's two-goal advantage just two minutes later when his shot from outside the penalty area took a deflection, wrong-footing Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. It was Cherki's first Premier League brace, although the French midfielder described his overall performance as only “so-so.” He said he was determined to make an impact after noticing that coach Enzo Maresca was preparing to substitute him. “When I see Enzo Maresca wanted to change me, I didn't like that, so I had to show him I wanted to play and wanted to score,” Cherki said. Haaland completed the scoring six minutes from time with a left-footed strike, sealing City's second straight victory of the season. The result moved City to the top of the Premier League table with six points from their opening two matches. Palace, meanwhile, remain without a point after two games. Midfielder Adam Wharton said the team was still adjusting to the style of new coach Pierre Sage, who took charge in June. Wharton said Palace showed some positive moments but failed to test City's goalkeeper enough and needed more time to adapt to their new manager's approach.

Manchester City have signed highly rated teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for a reported $117 million, with the 18-year-old seen as the club’s long-term replacement for Rodri. City said on Wednesday that Bouaddi has signed a five-year contract. The deal is worth 95 million euros ($110 million), with another 5 million euros in possible add-ons. The Morocco international is a defensive midfielder and is expected to play a key role in City’s midfield rebuild under new manager Enzo Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, recently joined Barcelona after helping Spain win the World Cup. City have already spent about $155 million on England midfielder Elliot Anderson. Bernardo Silva has also left after his contract expired, while Nico Gonzalez is reportedly close to joining Newcastle. British media reports also say City remain interested in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. Bouaddi’s transfer fee makes him the most expensive player ever sold by a French club, surpassing the 90 million-euro deal that took Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain to Saudi club Al Hilal in 2023. It is also the biggest fee paid for a teenager in Premier League history. “This is a very special day for me and my family,” Bouaddi said. “I’ve watched City for many years, and I love their style of play.” Rising talentBouaddi has impressed with his calm passing, tactical awareness and maturity. He joined Lille’s academy in 2021 and quickly became one of the club’s brightest prospects. Three days after turning 16, he became the youngest player to appear in a European competition when he featured against KI Klaksvik in the Europa Conference League. Bouaddi was also once compared with former Lille star Eden Hazard, who later became a Premier League standout with Chelsea. City’s director of football Hugo Viana praised the teenager’s potential. “At just 18, he already has outstanding football intelligence and that will only improve under the guidance of Enzo,” Viana said. One area Bouaddi still needs to improve is scoring. He failed to score in 96 appearances for Lille and is yet to score in eight matches for Morocco. “I am only 18. I am happy with the progress I have made so far, but I also know I can improve so much,” he said. Another major Lille saleLille have built a strong reputation for developing and selling young talent. The club sold Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal for 80 million euros in 2019, while Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen moved to Napoli for a similar fee the following year. Manchester United paid 62 million euros for Lille defender Leny Yoro in 2024. Last year, goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier joined Paris Saint-Germain for 40 million euros, while defender Bafode Diakite moved to Bournemouth for around the same amount. Bouaddi could debut FridayCity opened their season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday, with two late goals giving Maresca a winning start after Guardiola’s departure following a trophy-filled 10-year spell. Maresca used central defender Marc Guehi as a holding midfielder in that match, highlighting City’s lack of options in the position. Bouaddi could make his City debut against Crystal Palace on Friday.

Manchester City F.C. will face Chelsea F.C. in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, with City aiming to win the trophy again after losing the last two finals. City were beaten by Crystal Palace F.C. and Manchester United F.C. in the previous two FA Cup finals. Their last triumph in the competition came in 2023. The final will be City's fourth in a row, a new record for the club. Coach Pep Guardiola is also chasing a domestic treble after already winning the English League Cup this season. City remain in the race for the Premier League title as well. They are currently second in the standings, two points behind Arsenal F.C. with two matches left. Chelsea head into the final after a difficult season. The FIFA Club World Cup champions have dismissed two coaches since the start of the year and are now being led by interim manager Calum McFarlane. McFarlane will be hoping to guide Chelsea to a memorable victory and prevent Guardiola from winning his 17th major trophy with City and the 35th of his coaching career.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney believes Manchester City have a mental edge over Arsenal in the Premier League title race. League leaders Arsenal are currently nine points ahead, though they have played two more matches. They are set to face City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Speaking on his show, Rooney said City’s experience in winning titles and the presence of manager Pep Guardiola give them an advantage. He said City’s players are more used to handling pressure and can stay calmer in crucial moments compared to Arsenal’s squad. Rooney also warned that losing a few matches can affect a team’s confidence, creating doubts about scoring goals and winning games, which can impact overall performance. City boosted their chances with a 3-0 win over Chelsea, while Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth. According to Rooney, the outcome of Sunday’s clash could play a key role in deciding the title, with the winner likely to become favourites. He added that a draw would still be a positive result for Arsenal, but suggested they may need to adopt a more defensive and disciplined approach under manager Mikel Arteta. Rooney said Arsenal must remain compact, avoid leaving gaps and look to hit City on the counter-attack, stressing that they need to be resilient to stop City from scoring. Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur have dropped into the relegation zone after a defeat to Sunderland and a win for West Ham over Wolves. Rooney described Spurs’ recent performance as lacking intensity, saying they failed to benefit from a fresh start under new coach Roberto De Zerbi. He said the team appeared uncertain in their approach and needs quick improvement. Rooney warned that relegation would be a major setback for the club, adding that some players might consider leaving if that happens. He also cautioned that failing to return to the Premier League immediately would create serious long-term problems. Tottenham are still searching for their first league win of 2026 and will face Brighton at home next. Rooney said ending their winless run is crucial to rebuilding confidence, as continued poor results will make the situation even more difficult. Source: BBC

Arsenal moved seven points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League after a hard-fought 1-0 win at Brighton on Wednesday, while City drew 2-2 at home against struggling Nottingham Forest. Bukayo Saka’s early strike in the ninth minute proved decisive for Arsenal, as his low shot from the edge of the penalty area beat goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. City nearly snatched a late victory, but substitute Savinho’s stoppage-time attempt was cleared near the line. Elsewhere, Newcastle ended Manchester United’s seven-game unbeaten run under coach Michael Carrick with a 2-1 win, as Jacob Ramsey was sent off and William Osula scored a stoppage-time winner. Chelsea climbed to fifth with a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa, highlighted by João Pedro’s hat trick. In the relegation battle, West Ham edged Fulham 1-0 thanks to Crysencio Summerville’s second-half strike. Forest and West Ham remain in the drop zone, separated only by goal difference.

Manchester City kept the pressure on Premier League leader Arsenal after beating Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday, cutting the gap at the top to just two points. City’s win at the Etihad Stadium comes just before Arsenal’s crucial north London derby against Tottenham, adding more tension to the title race. Nico O’Reilly scored both goals for Pep Guardiola’s side, extending their unbeaten league run to five matches. O’Reilly opened the scoring in the 14th minute, but Newcastle equalized through Lewis Hall eight minutes later. The young forward restored City’s lead with a header five minutes after that. City then defended strongly in the second half to hold on for the win. The result underlines City’s growing momentum, especially after three straight victories over Liverpool, Fulham and Newcastle. Arsenal, meanwhile, has struggled recently with only two wins in its last seven league games. City also moved further ahead of third-placed Aston Villa, which was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Leeds. Substitute Tammy Abraham scored a late equalizer for Villa after Aton Stach had given Leeds the lead. The draw leaves Villa seven points behind Arsenal and dents its title hopes. Chelsea stayed fourth after conceding a stoppage-time goal in a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro had put Chelsea ahead early, but Zian Flemming struck in the 93rd minute to rescue a point for the visitors. Elsewhere, James Milner set a new Premier League record by making his 654th appearance, surpassing Gareth Barry’s previous mark. Brighton marked the milestone with a 2-0 win over Brentford. Tyler Adams also returned from injury, playing 66 minutes for Bournemouth in a goalless draw against West Ham.