Manchester City have been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges they face for breaching English Premier League (EPL) financial regulations.

The Athletic reported that an independent panel reached the decision, but no sanction has been decided yet. 

In response to the report, the club, expected to appeal the ruling, insisted the case “remains ongoing” and “subject to strict confidentiality.”

“As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023,” the club said.

“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

The case became public in 2023 after the EPL accused City of breaking the league’s financial rule from the 2009/10 season to the 2017/18 campaign.

The club was accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaching financial sustainability rules.

The period under scrutiny began barely two years after the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008, which catapulted City to one of the best EPL teams within a short time.

The club have won eight Premier League titles, four FA Cups, seven League Cups and one UEFA Champions League (UCL) under the Gulf group’s ownership.

City’s sanctions are likely to include a severe points deduction and possibly even expulsion from the EPL.

Everton and Nottingham Forest were both hit by points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of profit and sustainability rules

FIFA| Nigerian referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam

FIFA on Thursday named Zamfara-born Nigerian referee Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam among the match officials for this year’s U-17 World Cup tournament in Qatar, ending Nigeria’s 25-year wait for a centre referee.

The 34-year-old is the only Nigerian centre referee on FIFA’s list and one of four referees selected from Africa for the competition.

In a post obtained from FIFA’s website on Thursday, FIFA named 81 officials for the tournament, comprising 27 referees and 54 assistant referees from 36 member associations.

Abdulsalam’s selection marks the first time in 25 years that a Nigerian centre referee will officiate at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Abdulsalam has built considerable international experience, having participated in two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments as well as several WAFU competitions.

His recent performances have also earned him another major assignment, as he is scheduled to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture between Cameroon and Comoros.

French soccer champion Kylian Mbappé and On Holding – a Swiss sportswear manufacturer, have signed a 10-year partnership agreement for the promotion of the brand.

On, a new entrant in the soccer market, announced recently that it will be working with Mbappé to design high-performance footwear and apparel.

The French player, who has been associated with Nike since childhood, chose not to renew his deal with the sportswear giant.

On also announced that retired player and commentator Thierry Henry would join as its new director of football and FC Barcelona player Sydney Schertenleib would help develop and test its soccer apparel.

“Of course, I had 20 amazing years with Nike, I can only say thanks to them,” Mbappé said in a joint interview alongside On’s co-CEO David Alleman, with CNBC’s Carolin Roth on Monday.

But I think, as a person, as a player, it was the time to change… and after we started to talk, and after every discussion, I was a little bit more convinced about the fact that I have to be part of the family, I have to be part of the project, to be part of the journey with On and the football,” he added.“You need to feel at one with your shoes,” Mbappé continued in the CNBC interview. “As a player, you need to feel a special connection with your boot, with the ball, with the pitch, with the evolution of the game. Now you play 60 games in a season. You train every day. The intensity is high. You need to feel comfortable in your shoes.”