Man City’s ‘asterisk era’: £1.2bn spent, £830m inflated on accounts

Manchester City has been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules for the period that underpinned its dominance in English football. BBC Sport notes that, between summer 2009 and January 2018, the club spent around £1.2bn on new players in transfer windows, while the commission said the owners £830m worth of figures were “falsely pumped” into the books through disguised sponsorship income.

That stretch lines up with seven major trophies for City: three Premier Leagues, one FA Cup and three EFL Cups. Among the signings during those years were stars such as Sergio Agüero, Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho and David Silva.

Possible consequences for honours

City has until Friday to appeal. If the appeal fails, the club will face a form of punishment, and the piece flags the debate over whether sanctions could reach back to affect honours and prompt other clubs to seek legal advice over potential compensation.