Who Owns Manchester City?

Manchester City runs a sustainability program called "Game Plan" that targets net carbon zero by 2030. The club reports its environmental performance using the DEFRA GHG Protocol and UEFA's Carbon Calculator for European football benchmarking.

Scope 1 and 2 operations are carbon neutral. The club completed Phase One of a solar panel project at the City Football Academy, generating over 1MW of renewable energy on-site. All electricity used at the Etihad Stadium and training facilities is 100% renewable. Gas usage has been reduced by 160,000 kWh, contributing to a 182-tonne CO2 reduction.

Water consumption was reduced by 30 million litres in a single season through rainwater harvesting, attenuation systems, and 36 new rain gardens. The club recycles over 80% of its water. On waste, the club has eliminated single-use plastics and PET, achieving zero landfill status. In 2024-25, overall waste was reduced by 123 tonnes, with 71% recycled and 29% recovered.

The Matchday Bus Network expanded to 15 routes covering 83 stops, serving an average of 1,580 fans per matchday. Walking to matches increased by 16%. Over 70% of food served at the stadium is locally sourced, with expanded vegan and halal options.

The City Football Academy meets L.E.E.D. gold standards and supports 575 recorded species, including the Bee Wolf and Yellow-legged Mining Bee. The Mancgroves initiative creates a blue-green ring around the Etihad Campus, enhancing biodiversity and CO2 sequestration.

The club is preparing for CSRD compliance with full ESG reporting planned by 2027-28. However, Manchester City's sustainability efforts are complicated by its ownership structure. The club's connection to Abu Dhabi has drawn criticism regarding sportswashing, and the 115 charges case includes allegations related to sponsorship revenue from Abu Dhabi-connected entities.

Manchester City won the Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League in 2022-23, completing a historic treble. Only two English clubs have achieved this feat (the other being Manchester United in 1998-99). The Champions League final was a 1-0 win over Inter Milan in Istanbul.

The club has won seven Premier League titles since 2012 (2012, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), six League Cups, and two FA Cups under CFG ownership. In 2023, Manchester City also won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time.

Pep Guardiola has been named Premier League Manager of the Season multiple times during his tenure. Several City players have won the FWA Footballer of the Year award, including Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden.

The Etihad Stadium and City Football Academy have received L.E.E.D. gold certification for environmental standards. The club's sustainability program has been recognized by UEFA and the Premier League as a leading example of environmental stewardship in professional sports.

Forbes valued Manchester City at approximately $5.1 billion in 2025. Brand Finance ranked the club among the top five most valuable football brands globally.

The most significant controversy is the Premier League's 115 charges case. In February 2023, the Premier League charged Manchester City with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. The charges include failure to provide accurate financial information, failure to disclose manager and player compensation, and failure to comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations. The club denies all charges.

A 12-week independent hearing concluded in December 2024. Approximately half a million pieces of evidence were presented. As of August 2026, the verdict has not been announced. Football finance experts suggest that if found guilty, penalties could include points deductions of 40 to 60 points, consistent with penalties applied to Everton and Nottingham Forest in prior FFP cases. More serious consequences could include board resignations and club restructuring if corporate fraud is proven. The Premier League cannot unilaterally relegate City, as that would require EFL involvement.

The club's ownership by Abu Dhabi United Group has drawn ongoing criticism regarding sportswashing. Critics argue that Abu Dhabi uses Manchester City to improve its international reputation, particularly around human rights concerns. The club's sponsorship deals with Etihad Airways, Aabar, and other Abu Dhabi-connected entities have faced scrutiny over whether they represent genuine commercial transactions or mechanisms to circumvent FFP regulations.

In 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year UEFA ban on Manchester City from European competitions, ruling that some allegations were time-barred and others were not established. The CAS decision reduced the fine but did not fully clear the club.

The 115 charges case has implications beyond Manchester City. The outcome could reshape how FFP regulations are enforced across European football and establish precedents for regulating state-owned clubs. The delay in delivering a verdict has drawn criticism from rival clubs and football governance advocates.