The Man City appeal is now lodged, and the story is moving well beyond the Premier League’s own process. Two other developments this week add pressure: the Football Association says it is monitoring the case, and the chair of the Treasury Committee has written to HMRC.
The club confirms the Man City appeal
On its official website, the club said it lodged its comprehensive appeal at 7pm on Thursday 1 October 2026. The appeal is against the opinion of the Premier League commission.
City said that its “firm position” is that the opinion contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact” and is unsafe. The club also said it is innocent of the accusations and that a body of “irrefutable evidence” supports its positions. Those are City’s claims, not findings. The club said it will respect due process and is limited in what it can say until proceedings are complete.
What the FA says about the Man City appeal
According to Reuters, the FA said it is closely monitoring the case. In a statement on Friday it said the commission’s decision “has significant implications for the integrity of the game”. It added: “We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.”
The FA did not say what action it might take. For City fans the practical point is that the issue is no longer being discussed only inside the Premier League’s rules.
The HMRC letter
Dame Meg Hillier, who chairs the Treasury Committee, has written to HMRC Permanent Secretary JP Marks. Parliament’s committee page says she asks for reassurance that the department is “seized of the importance” of the case. She also asks whether HMRC is aware of the findings and whether it has asked for an unredacted copy of the report.
A letter of this kind is a request for information. It is not an investigation, and it does not say HMRC has found anything. For now, it adds outside attention to the Man City appeal and little else.
The timetable after the appeal
Reuters reports that the Premier League’s fast-track rules require a hearing within 12 weeks of an appeal being lodged. That sets the clock for the Man City appeal. A decision is due within 30 days of the hearing ending. In addition, Reuters says City are expected to argue that those rules were not in place when the club was charged in February 2023. That is a reported expectation, not a confirmed argument.
What to watch next
- The hearing date for the appeal.
- Whether the FA says what “action where appropriate” means.
- Any reply from HMRC to the Treasury Committee.
We will update this page as the Man City appeal moves on. For earlier coverage, read our report on how the appeal could run into 2027.
Which is the bigger risk to City right now?
1 comment
The FA says it will “take action where appropriate” and the Treasury Committee has written to HMRC. Which worries City more, the appeal or the outside attention?