By: Rowan Guiney
Manchester City Football Club was founded in 1880 and achieved early success, but remained mediocre throughout most of its history. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the club experienced its first golden era. However, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Manchester City went through a volatile period, with multiple relegations and promotions. By the mid-2000s, the team managed to stabilize as a consistent mid-table Premier League side.
The club’s trajectory changed significantly in 2008 when it was acquired by the Abu Dhabi United Group, which was led by Sheikh Mansour, who is currently the vice president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is also the brother of the president of the UAE. The new ownership immediately began injecting significant capital into the club. Beyond Manchester City, the parent company, City Football Group (CFG), expanded its reach globally by acquiring or investing in 12 other football clubs, including: New York City FC, Melbourne City FC, and Girona FC. CFG uses these clubs to build a global scouting network, develop young talent, and to grow the brand worldwide.
After CFC acquired Manchester City, its revenues surged dramatically, supported by lucrative corporate sponsorships, many of which were linked to companies in the United Arab Emirates (such as Etihad Airways). However, the club faced allegations of “financial impropriety”, specifically that they masked direct owner funding as sponsorship revenue and failed to fully report player and managerial compensation.
According to an article in ‘The Athletic’, in 2019, UEFA opened an investigation into Manchester City. In 2020 UEFA found Man City had breached UEFA FFP rules (financial fair play rules). As punishment UEFA issued a two-year ban from European competitions and a €30 million fine. Manchester City appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). CAS overturned the European ban and reduced the fine to €10 million, ruling that many of the alleged violations were either “non proven” or “time-barred” (meaning they occurred outside the 5-year statute of limitations permitted under UEFA’s own regulations).
In 2026, the club has been found guilty of 115 charges by an independent commission brought by the English Premier League regarding alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018. The club has appealed the verdict. If the ruling stands, potential punishments could range from substantial financial fines and points deductions, to the stripping of past titles or expulsion from the Premier League.
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