Man City say they have appealed against verdict club broke money rules

Manchester City say they have officially appealed, after being found guilty of breaking the Premier League's financial rules.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that the north-west club had breached the rules during a nine-year-period.

City has now asked for the decision to be looked at again, saying it contains "clear material errors" and that it has evidence to support its case.

In a statement, the Premier League said it was "carefully considering the decision and its implications" and would "take action where appropriate."

A new independent panel will now consider the club's appeal.

This week the Premier League confirmed that Manchester City had been found guilty of breaking its financial rules during a nine-year-period between 2009 and 2018.

According to its report, an independent commission found that the club arranged for "sham" - or misleading - contracts, and used deals with commercial partners to hide secret funding of more than £830 million.

Manchester City has always denied the charges and any wrongdoing, and at the time said it would be appealing the decision.

An appeal is when someone asks for a decision to reconsidered, because they believe it is wrong.

In a statement on Friday, Manchester City confirmed it sent its appeal on Thursday evening, one day before the deadline.

The club says it is innocent of the accusations and has evidence to support its position.

A new three-person independent commission group will now look at City's appeal.

They will consider whether the original decision should stay the same or be changed.

According to Premier League rules, an appeal hearing should normally finish within 12 weeks of the appeal being heard.

A decision should then be given within 30 days of the hearing ending - but that can be extended, so we don't know exactly when the decision will be announced.

There is also a separate hearing to decide whether Manchester City should face a punishment for the rule breaches and, if so, what that would be.

That hearing is separate from City's appeal.

In a short statement, the club said the commission's guilty ruling contained "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe".

Asserting its innocence, the club added it had filed "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence [that] exists in support of all of its positions" on Thursday evening.

Earlier on Friday, the Football Association said the verdict against City has "significant implications for the integrity of the game".

In a statement, English football's governing body added: "We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate."