LaLiga president Javier Tebas has revealed that he reported Manchester City to the European Commission for allegedly manipulating their balance sheets.
Speaking at the Financial Times’ “Business of Football” summit on Thursday, Tebas said he had filed the complaint in 2023 and it is in an “investigation phase.”
The Premier League side have declined to comment on the issue, although a source told ESPN that they deny the claims.
A spokesperson for the EU Commission confirmed to ESPN that LaLiga’s complaint had been submitted, adding that they “cannot comment on ongoing assessments.”
“City have a lot of companies in their group which lie outside the City Football Group structure, extra companies where they put their expenses,” Tebas said.
“These other companies lose the money but not the club itself. We have reported Manchester City to the EU. We have the facts and figures.
“We asked for City to be checked. It’s very important that all clubs are subject to the same transparency rules and governance on both the sporting and financial side.
“The City case is one where we believe they have put the losses on the companies that are not officially part of City Football Group.”
“Do you remember the case in the United States? The Enron case. What they did, they got their losses and they put them into different companies. Well, it’s a similar case.”
“They [City] have a scouting company, a marketing company. That’s where they have very high expenses. They invoice City for less money. City have costs that are less than if they didn’t have this circle of companies around,” he added.
City are already ensnared in another legal battle as they refute charges of breaking over 100 Premier League financial rules.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola declined to answer questions on Friday about Tebas’ comments.
Guardiola was asked repeatedly about it at a Friday news conference ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup 5th round match at home to second-tier Plymouth Argyle and three times answered: “Next.”
Information from Rob Dawson contributed to this report.
