Report: Manchester City Faces Threat of New Probe into Possible Financial Breaches

The Independent reports that Manchester City could face a new investigation into possible financial breaches in the seasons after 2018, following questions within the Premier League about whether practices at the heart of the previous case continued.

An independent commission had charged the club with 114 financial breaches relating to the period from 2009 to 2018, including inflating the value of sponsorship deals with money provided by the owners without disclosure. City maintains its innocence and continues to appeal the decision.

The club's commercial revenue remaining at high levels, and its continuing relationships with sponsors linked to Abu Dhabi, have raised questions among some club officials about whether the practices continued after 2018. But opening a new investigation could require additional evidence, such as the leaked emails that helped trigger the first investigation.

The questions come amid City's achievements after 2018 under Pep Guardiola. The team has won six Premier League titles in seven seasons, including four in a row, as well as the domestic treble and the historic treble in the 2022-2023 season, which included its first Champions League title.

According to the report, some officials believe that raising the possibility of a new investigation could become a bargaining chip in negotiations over sanctions in the current case, while others warn against prolonging the matter and prefer to wait for the appeal outcome and the sanctions that were expected to be issued during November. Opening a new case could also affect the club's appeal to potential buyers, amid the possibility that it may be put up for sale. City continues to maintain its innocence as it awaits the resolution of its appeal and the final sanctions.