The Football Association (FA) has said the independent commission’s verdict against Manchester City has “significant implications for the integrity of the game” and confirmed that it could take disciplinary action against the club or individuals involved.
The FA issued its first response to the verdict on Friday, October 2, after Manchester City were found guilty of multiple breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations covering the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
In a statement, the governing body said it was examining the commission’s findings and would consider further action where appropriate.
“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 added that it would continue to monitor developments because the dispute between Manchester City and the Premier League remains ongoing.
Manchester City Found Guilty of Financial Breaches
The independent commission, following a 42-day hearing, found Manchester City guilty of all the charges relating to the financial regulations covered by the case.
Among the commission’s findings was that the club had used what it described as a “Disguised Funding Scheme” and “sham contracts” connected to commercial arrangements.
The commission concluded that the arrangements were used to disguise more than £830 million in secret funding, with other reporting putting the overall value of income affected by the findings at more than £900 million.
The case relates to a period stretching from 2009 to 2018 and is separate from the sporting success Manchester City achieved during the years covered by the investigation.
Manchester City have consistently denied wrongdoing and are challenging the commission’s findings.
City Expected to Appeal
Manchester City have the right to appeal the independent commission’s verdict.
The club was expected to lodge its appeal by Friday's deadline, with the appeal process potentially extending into January under the Premier League's rules.
The appeal means the FA is not immediately imposing any new punishment based on the commission's findings.
Instead, the governing body has indicated that it will wait for the ongoing Premier League proceedings to develop before determining whether further action is appropriate.
The FA said:
“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.”
FA Could Take Action Against Individuals
The FA's potential involvement extends beyond Manchester City as a club.
The governing body has powers to take disciplinary action against individuals if evidence establishes that they breached football regulations or acted dishonestly.
The independent commission concluded that individuals were involved in conduct it considered dishonest, although the names of those individuals were redacted from the 40-page core judgment published this week.
The FA could potentially request an unredacted version of the judgment from the Premier League as it considers whether any separate disciplinary action is warranted.
However, no such action has been announced at this stage.
What the Verdict Means for English Football
The FA's response places renewed attention on the wider implications of the Manchester City case for financial regulation and competitive integrity in English football.
The governing body said the commission's decision has implications for the integrity of the game, but stopped short of announcing any specific punishment or conclusion regarding Manchester City's appeal.
The FA's position also reflects its usual approach of allowing disciplinary processes conducted by football leagues to run their course before considering whether separate action is necessary.
A similar situation occurred with Chelsea earlier in 2026.
The FA fined Chelsea £10 million and imposed a suspended two-window transfer ban after the club admitted 74 breaches of its agent regulations. The punishment followed a Premier League fine of £10.75 million relating to the same offences.
City’s Next Step Could Shape the Case
Manchester City's appeal is now the next significant stage in the dispute.
The club has repeatedly rejected the allegations and is expected to challenge the commission's conclusions, including findings relating to sponsorship arrangements and alleged disguised funding.
According to reports, one argument expected to feature in City's appeal is that key sponsorship deals were funded by the Abu Dhabi government rather than directly by the club's owners.
Until the appeal process is completed, the full consequences of the independent commission's verdict remain unresolved.
For now, the FA has made clear that it is monitoring the case and has not ruled out further disciplinary action.
The governing body's statement adds another layer to a case that has already become one of the most significant financial-regulation disputes in Premier League history.
