Manchester City Football Club has expressed shock over an allegation of financial breach levelled against the club by the Premier League on Monday.
In a statement on Monday, the defending Premier League champions said the club welcomes an impartial review of the matter by an independent Commission.
The club’s statement read, “Manchester City FC is 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 welcomes 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 have been referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over alleged breaches of its financial rules, the English top flight announced on Monday.
The alleged breaches span a period from the 2009/10 season to the 2017/18 campaign.
They are alleged to have breached league rules requiring provision “in utmost good faith” of “accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club’s financial position”.
The Premier League said the accurate financial information required related to “revenue (including sponsorship revenue), its related parties and its operating costs”.
The second set of breaches listed refers to alleged breaking of rules “requiring a member club to include full details of manager remuneration in its relevant contracts with its manager” related to seasons 2009/10 to 2012/13 inclusive
The club’s manager between December 2009 and May 2013 was current Italy boss Roberto Mancini.
The second set of alleged breaches also refers to requirements for a club to “include full details of player remuneration within the relevant contracts”.
The third section deals with alleged breaches of Premier League rules requiring clubs to comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.