See Full List Of Premier League Clubs Found Guilty Of Rule Breaches Since 1992
The Premier League rule breaches recorded since the competition began in 1992 range from financial violations and transfer misconduct to fielding ineligible players, failing to fulfil fixtures and breaking player-registration rules.
The issue has returned to the spotlight after Manchester City were reportedly found guilty of 114 of 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. City have consistently denied wrongdoing and are expected to appeal, while the sanction in that case has not yet been determined.
But Manchester City are not the first Premier League club to be found guilty of breaking league rules.
Over more than three decades, several clubs have faced fines, points deductions, transfer restrictions or other sporting sanctions.
It is important, however, to distinguish between rule breaches and deliberate cheating. Not every case involved an attempt to gain a sporting advantage, and some sanctions followed administrative or financial breaches.
Here is a look at the notable clubs that have been found guilty and sanctioned since the Premier League was established in 1992.
Middlesbrough were the first Premier League club to receive a points deduction.
In December 1996, the club called off a scheduled match against Blackburn Rovers at short notice because of a severe shortage of available players.
Middlesbrough had been affected by injuries and illness and informed the Premier League that they could not field a team.
The league nevertheless ruled against the club, with a disciplinary commission imposing a three-point deduction and ordering the fixture to be replayed.
Middlesbrough were also ordered to pay a £50,000 fine and the costs of the commission.
The deduction proved significant. Middlesbrough were relegated at the end of the 1996/97 season.
The case is worth mentioning because it was a competition-rule dispute rather than a financial or match-fixing case.
Chelsea became one of the Premier League’s most prominent early disciplinary cases when the club was found guilty of tapping up Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.
Cole, who was under contract with Arsenal, met Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and then Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon at a London hotel.
An independent Premier League commission found Chelsea guilty of approaching a contracted player without Arsenal’s permission.
Chelsea were fined £300,000 and given a suspended three-point deduction.
Mourinho and Cole were also punished, although their individual fines were later reduced on appeal. Chelsea’s £300,000 fine remained in place.
The case became one of the best-known examples of a Premier League club being punished for an improper approach to a player.
West Ham were found guilty over their controversial signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
The Premier League investigation centred on third-party ownership arrangements connected to the players.
The league concluded that West Ham had breached its rules and had failed to act in good faith.
The club pleaded guilty and received a £5.5 million fine, which at the time was the largest fine imposed by the Premier League.
West Ham were not given a points deduction.
The case became particularly controversial because Tevez later scored the goal that helped West Ham avoid relegation on the final day of the 2006/07 season.
Portsmouth became the first Premier League club to enter administration.
The club was facing severe financial problems and entered administration in February 2010.