Manchester City Women face indirect risks amid Premier League financial ruling against Men’s team

Manchester City Women are not directly implicated in the Premier League’s financial investigation that found the men’s side guilty of circumventing financial regulations through “sham” sponsorship agreements, according to an analysis by The Athletic.

Because the women’s team operates under a distinct legal entity—Manchester City Women’s Football Club Limited—and competes in the Women’s Super League (WSL) outside Premier League jurisdiction, they face no direct sporting sanctions or regulatory charges.

Furthermore, spending on women’s teams is exempt from Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) calculations.​However, the team remains financially reliant on parent company City Football Group (CFG) for operational funding and infrastructure.

While their commercial deals have grown legitimately in recent years, indirect consequences—such as potential financial tightening across CFG or reputational fallout affecting contract extensions and future commercial sponsorships—pose significant long-term concerns for the WSL leaders.