This slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ended 30 June 2024 is made by City Football Group Limited (“CFG”) on behalf of itself and its subsidiary Manchester City Football Club Limited (the “Club”) (together referred to as “we”, “us”, “our”) pursuant to section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“MSA 2015”).
The purpose of this statement is to set out the steps taken by us to ensure modern slavery is not taking place in our business and supply chains.
About us
CFG is a holding company established to oversee a multinational network of linked football clubs and other football operations. CFG’s operations are organised into football clubs and service companies which support the main football business and cover business operations including: sponsorships, partnerships, merchandising, ticketing, hospitality and marketing. The Club is a professional football club and participated in both domestic and European club competitions during the 23/24 season.
CFG’s ultimate majority shareholder is HH Sheikh Mansour. CFG has its head office in the UK at City Football HQ, 400 Ashton New Road, Manchester, England, M11 4TQ and, on a consolidated basis, has an annual turnover of more than £36m. CFG and the Club’s financial year end is 30 June.
OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT
We continue to be committed to conducting our business in an ethical and lawful manner and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and human trafficking, in all its forms. Everyone in our business has a responsibility to be alert to the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking, however small, both within our business and in our wider supply chain and partnerships. Our workforce are required to report any concerns about modern slavery and human trafficking and management are required to act upon them.
OUR SUPPLY CHAIN & DUE DILIGENCE PROCESSES
Our supply chain includes third party suppliers of the following good and services across our operations:
-
sponsorship and marketing partnerships
-
the manufacture and supply of our licensed products and merchandise, kit and equipment
-
the procurement and sourcing of a range of services such as IT, media, marketing, security, consultancy, professional services, catering, hospitality and other services relating to the football and sports industry
Our internal procurement function has robust procedures in place for selecting new suppliers. As part of our approach to identify and mitigate any risk of modern slavery in our supply chain, our preference is to build long-standing relationships with local suppliers and clearly outline our expectations for business behaviour, including our zero-tolerance approach to slavery and human trafficking.
Our standard contractual terms of business require our counterparties to comply with applicable laws in relation to anti-slavery and human trafficking, to incorporate equivalent terms in their own contractual arrangements, and an obligation to notify us should they become aware of any slavery or human trafficking in their own supply chains.
LIVING WAGE & RECRUITMENT PROCESS
We believe our staff deserve a wage which meets their everyday needs and is why we continue to be an accredited member of the Living Wage Foundation, whereby we voluntarily agree to pay each member of staff over the age of 18 a fair wage that is aligned with the cost of living. Further, we require any supplier who provides staff to work at our sites to provide the same [1].
We acknowledge the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking arising through our recruitment and therefore operate a robust recruitment process, which includes mandatory DBS checks, references and pre-recruitment right to work checks. The pre-recruitment right to work check is a particularly important risk management tool to enable us to ensure that each individual employed by us has the right to work in the UK and has not been illegally trafficked to the UK. We have recently undertaken a thorough review of our pre-employment checking processes and have refined them to layer additional safeguards in our ways of working. Identity checks are completed on an employee’s first day to confirm they are the same person that was interviewed and verified during pre-employment.
SAFEGUARDING
CFG and the Club recognise the importance of promoting and protecting the rights, safety, dignity and well-being of everyone who is in contact with any of our activities. We have a dedicated safeguarding team that has established best practice safeguarding policies and procedures pursuant to applicable statutory and regulatory guidance. Our safe recruitment, operational supervision, concern reporting, and whistleblowing processes, contribute to the overall organisational commitment to help prevent or respond to issues related to human trafficking and modern slavery.
All individuals connected with CFG and the Club are encouraged to report any safeguarding-related concerns they experience, including those which may fall within the definitions of modern slavery and human trafficking. We will respond to any such concerns with sensitivity and in the strictest confidence and where appropriate make referrals to the relevant statutory authorities.
OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN COMBATING SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING
We use the following key performance indicators to measure how effective we have been to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in our business or in our supply chain: the internal and external audit process; the monitoring of human resource recruitment policies and payroll systems, including the use of preferred employment agencies; and, direct communication with our suppliers ensuring their understanding of, and compliance with, our expectations and zero tolerance approach to modern slavery, including human trafficking. We will continue to review and update our policies and procedures in relation to modern slavery and human trafficking.
[1] This applies to anybody (other than an apprentice) who provides 2 or more hours of work a week for 8 or more consecutive weeks in a 12-month period on our premises. Approved by the CFG Board of Directors on 5 June 2025. Signed for and on behalf of the CFG Board of Directors. Simon Cliff Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
Approved by the CFG Board of Directors on 5 June 2025.
Signed for and on behalf of the CFG Board of Directors.
Simon Cliff
Group General Counsel and Company Secretary