According to The Daily Telegraph, Manchester City faces increasing calls for criminal investigation after the Premier League formally confirmed that the club breached more than 100 financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. An independent panel found that the club circumvented spending rules through inflated revenues and artificially reduced costs by over 900 million pounds, and violated accounting requirements by failing to provide financial statements that were "true and fair."

Lord Cruddas, a Conservative peer and owner of CMC Markets, whose company sponsors Everton's shirts, has stated explicitly that the matter should be referred for criminal investigation. Cruddas said: "The Manchester City investigation findings are now clearly a matter for the police. If accounts have been falsified and auditors have been misled, that could constitute a criminal matter. Auditors would report to the police, and UK company directors are personally liable for any fraud, even if the company is foreign-owned."

A source connected with a rival club told The Daily Telegraph that the club's financial conduct should be investigated by authorities outside football. David Bernstein, the club's former chairman and former FA chief, has questioned whether the case requires "investigation by external authorities."

Under Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006, a person who dishonestly makes a false representation intending to make a gain for themselves or another, or to cause loss to another or expose them to risk of loss, faces up to 10 years imprisonment and unlimited fines. The Act further specifies: "A representation is false if it is untrue or misleading, and the person making it knows that it is, or might be, untrue or misleading." Under Section 501 of the Companies Act 2006, a person who knowingly or recklessly makes a statement to an auditor that is misleading, false, or deceptive may face up to two years imprisonment. The same Act also establishes that providing false statements to the Registrar of Companies is an offense that may result in unlimited fines.

Anger among Premier League executives toward Manchester City is evident. Some have compared the club's violations to Lance Armstrong's doping scandal in cycling. A senior official stated: "This is the biggest sports story of my lifetime." Others note that while clubs in other sports have been caught cheating, Manchester City's situation is more severe because the club's business model was designed for deception and the organization has shown no remorse, instead aggressively attempting to evade accountability.

The phrase "financial doping" has been widely adopted. It has been observed that when Armstrong was proven to have used performance-enhancing drugs with the knowledge and support of the US Postal Service team, he was not alone in facing severe penalties. Armstrong was stripped of his titles, but the team was also dissolved and sold, and those directly involved in the fraud and cover-up faced lifetime bans. Some in football therefore believe that Manchester City's owners and executives should face similar penalties for their years of misconduct at the Etihad Stadium.

A hearing will take place in the coming weeks to determine Manchester City's sanctions. The club could face fines, points deduction, or even expulsion from the Premier League. They may also face compensation claims from rival Premier League clubs that have been harmed. Independent football regulators and the FA can also take action against Manchester City's owner, Abu Dhabi United Group. Manchester City has denied any wrongdoing and has until Friday to appeal the ruling, which they have stated they will do. The appeal will follow the procedures set out in the Premier League handbook.

In response to the independent panel's findings, Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano stated that the club will pursue all legal avenues to clear its name, including action against anyone who damages the club's reputation. While this may not include the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as the Premier League does not recognize it, the case could ultimately be taken to the High Court under the Arbitration Act. Soriano accused the independent panel of effectively endorsing a "Premier League conspiracy theory" by upholding all but one of the charges. He stated: "In doing so, that opinion has necessarily ignored substantial evidence presented by the club to reach what is clearly a flawed conclusion."

When Sky News journalist Rob Harris questioned him directly on Tuesday afternoon, Soriano refused to respond. Rui Pinto, the Football Leaks whistleblower, responded to the video by stating: "Completely exposed from start to finish today, yet still so arrogant." Pinto also wrote on social media: "The statement released by the Premier League today finally confirms that everything Football Leaks revealed is true. The independent panel's characterization of Manchester City management's conduct is particularly severe, leaving no doubt that they acted with complete and utter contempt—challenging everyone and everything from the start. They displayed absolute disdain for regulations, for the organization responsible for governing and controlling the game, for the integrity of competition, for other clubs, and especially for the fans. Cheating, lying, and manipulation for years—they will finally face the consequences."

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