Manchester City has been found guilty of charges brought by the Premier League three and a half years ago, the club's investigation has revealed. The findings centre on what the Premier League commission determined was a "disguised funding scheme" involving falsely inflated sponsorship income during a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018.
According to the commission, £830m of the club's stated sponsorship income during this time was artificially overstated. The club spent approximately £1.2bn on player transfers across the same period, raising questions about how this expenditure would have been possible without the inflated revenue figures.
Trophies Won During the Period in Question
Between summer 2009 and January 2018, Manchester City won seven major trophies: three Premier League titles, one FA Cup, and three EFL Cups. The club had not won a significant honour since 1970 before this era began.
Players signed during this period included some of the world's leading footballers across all positions. Key signings included Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho and David Silva, many purchased for tens of millions of pounds in successive transfer windows.
Questions Over Achievement Legitimacy
The guilty verdict has prompted football fans globally to question the legitimacy of Manchester City's achievements during this period. Some are referring to it as the "asterisk era". There is a possibility the club could be retroactively stripped of honours earned during 2009 to 2018, with some clubs seeking legal advice over potential financial compensation.
Outside Manchester City's Etihad Stadium stands a statue of Sergio Aguero depicting his celebration after scoring the goal that secured the club's first Premier League title in the dying seconds of the 2011-12 season.
