Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs were all told about Manchester City’s guilty verdict before the rest of the league.
The four clubs were contacted before the other 15 Premier League sides on September 25, according to the Telegraph.
Executives at those other clubs were required to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they could access the communication.
The early notice was linked to a legal step the quartet had taken two years earlier, when each independently reserved the right to pursue damages against City in the event of a guilty finding.
GB News has contacted all four teams and the Premier League, who refused to comment.
The move came just before a six-year limitation window closed, with the clock already ticking after the original revelations about City’s financial arrangements were published by German outlet Der Spiegel.
At that point, Premier League clubs had no way to approach the independent commission directly to establish whether compensation might factor into any eventual ruling or sanctions against City.
The remaining Premier League shareholders at the time chose not to take the same precautionary step, including Chelsea, who have since found themselves facing their own charges from both the Premier League and the FA relating to historical misconduct.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs were all told about Manchester City’s guilty verdict early
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PAHowever, the failure to give prior notice is not believed to bar those clubs from pursuing compensation claims against City later.
City were found guilty on all but one of the charges brought by an independent commission over allegations covering the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons.
It found the club had breached financial rules, including through sponsorship arrangements it described as part of a “disguised funding scheme”.
The findings said City recorded close to £950million in sponsorship revenue from Abu Dhabi-based companies, while around £830million of the funding had come from the Abu Dhabi United Group, which owns City.
Manchester City have always denied any wrongdoing | PACity confirmed it had lodged an appeal on October 1, writing that its “firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle and fact and is unsafe”.
City said: “Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday October 1, 2026 the Club lodged its comprehensive Appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter.
“The Club’s firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe.
“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.
Manchester City confirmed it had lodged an appeal on October 1
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PA“We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete.”
Their appeal will be considered by a separate Appeal Board under Premier League rules.
The rules provide for a hearing within 12 weeks of an appeal being lodged, although the eventual timetable and outcome remain uncertain.
The question of any punishment is being handled separately.
