The Football Association has broken its silence on the Manchester City case, warning that the guilty verdict handed down by an independent commission raises serious questions about the integrity of English football.
In a statement released on Friday, the governing body said: “The Independent Commission’s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game. We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.”
The FA stopped short of saying what action it might take, citing the ongoing proceedings between the Premier League and the club.
“As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely,” the statement added.
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The wording leaves open the possibility of separate FA intervention once the legal process runs its course, but the body offered no timeline and no detail on what form any step might take.
The statement follows a ruling on Tuesday, September 29, in which the commission found City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League for breaching financial rules over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018.
The panel found that City entered “sham contracts” with a number of commercial partners as part of a scheme to conceal secret funding.
The commission also rejected one explanation offered by the club as “untrue,” saying the club had concocted it well after the event. City have denied any wrongdoing on all charges, and the club had until Friday to lodge an appeal.
The scale of the potential punishment remains unclear while the appeal process is pending, but speculation has centred on significant fines, compensation to rival clubs, the stripping of titles and even relegation.
Other Premier League clubs are reported to want any sanction enforced this season, which sets up a tense few months for English football’s top flight. For now, the FA’s message is one of caution mixed with warning: it is watching closely, and it has not ruled out acting itself.
