La Liga launch formal Manchester City complaint with European Commission following ‘deception’ | OneFootball

Manchester City have seen themselves reported to the European Commission by La Liga over a matter of ‘deception’, president Javier Tebas has confirmed this week.

Tebas has been speaking to the media at this week’s Financial Times’ Business of Football Summit, and as part of a wide-ranging conversation on the state-of-play in European football, launched fresh accusations in the direction of the Premier League champions.

The 62-year-old has accused City of financial irregularities and revealed he has filed an active case on the matter with the European Commission, which was submitted in 2023 on a “serious distortion” to the international market of the European Union caused by the Etihad club.

According to GIVEMESPORT’s Ben Jacobs, Manchester City have since declined to comment on the matter, although sources are said to be strongly refuting the allegations from Tebas and stress that the club’s accounts are simply a matter of public record.

But Tebas has spoke at length on the matter, and told media this week, “What worries me is Manchester City have a group of companies outside City Football Group. They saddle all expenses to these companies.

“For example, they have scouting or marketing companies who accrue high expenses, and invoice Manchester City for low amounts. It allows Manchester City to have a structure that circumvents rules.

“As a result, we’ve reported Manchester City to the European Commission. Even though they’re an English team, not part of the EU, they still have commercial activities in Europe. We first made the complaint in July 2023 and there are now regulations in place allowing the EU to look at companies like City Football Group.”

Javier Tebas continued, “Our case against Manchester City relates to two things; checking Manchester City are not using other companies to cheat the system, and a bigger battle to stop football ending up in the hands of State-owned entities without proper policing.

“We also take issue with some of the prices the club has paid, and question how the club can saddle losses on other related companies not directly part of City Football Group.”

The latest developments concerning Manchester City away from the pitch also come at a time when the club are continuing to await a verdict concerning their 115 charges issued by the Premier League in February 2023 for alleged financial rule breaches.

The understanding in various quarters is that the Premier League champions will be made aware of any potential punishments along with the overall verdict within the next few weeks, however no set date is public knowledge at this time.