MANCHESTER CITY have been accused of breaching a slew of financial rules from 2009 to 2018, the period in which they became a force in English and European football after the club’s takeover by Abu Dhabi’s ruling family.

The league issued a long statement today detailing a list of breaches of regulations compiled in its four-year investigation covering a period when the team won three Premier League titles, in 2012, 2014 and 2018.

City, the current defending league champions, are accused of failing to provide “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position” between 2009 and 2018 and failing to give “full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts” from 2009 to 2013. Current Italy boss Roberto Mancini was manager during that period.

Other allegations include failure to comply with Uefa regulations from 2013-18, Premier League profitability and sustainability rules from 2015-18 and failure to assist with the league’s investigation from December 2018 to the present day.

The league said they have referred the breaches to an independent commission ahead of a confidential hearing.

The club responded robustly today: “Manchester City FC are surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

“The club welcome the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.

“As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

City could be at risk of severe punishment. The Premier League’s rule book gives a disciplinary commission powers to impose a range of sanctions — plus the wider scope of “such other penalty as it shall think fit.”

A large fine seems inevitable if the charges are proven, but a points deduction, titles expunged or even being kicked out of the league are punishments available according to league rules — prompting frenzied debate in the football world about what might be suitable.

While City were under investigation by the Premier League, the club had a two-year ban from European club competitions overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020 after Uefa ruled that City committed serious breaches of financial fair-play regulations from 2012 to 2016.

City were not fully cleared of wrongdoing, though the court said some of the allegations were not proven or could not be judged because of a statute of limitations in the European body’s rules.

The court also fined City €10 million for failing to co-operate with investigators. The club’s “blatant disregard” should be “strongly condemned,” the court’s judges said.

City have been transformed into a footballing superpower in the decade since being bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and a member of Abu Dhabi’s royal family.

Under Abu Dhabi ownership, City — who for decades had lived in the shadow of their neighbours United — have picked up six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and six League Cups.