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Man City Chairman Confident in Proving Innocence Amid Financial Breach Charges
Confirmed
In Short: Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak remains confident in proving the club's innocence despite being found guilty of most financial breach charges.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak remains confident in proving the club's innocence despite being found guilty of most financial breach charges by the Premier League.
Al Mubarak released a statement on Friday, not denying the guilty verdicts but emphasizing that the process remains ongoing and that the club's confidence in proving its innocence is as strong as ever.
The Premier League accused the club of inflating sponsorship revenue and making off-the-books payments to circumvent financial regulations, with the charges covering the managerial tenures of Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini, and the first two years under Pep Guardiola.
City won eight trophies during the period covered by the case, including three Premier League titles, three EFL Cups, one Community Shield, and one FA Cup.
The club is expected to appeal any guilty verdict, as they have maintained their innocence throughout the process.
The charges cover a period from 2009 to 2018, and the independent commission concluded its hearing in December 2024.
City's statement to supporters noted that the club had expected the Premier League board and executive to behave as an independent, impartial, and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice about compensation related to the charges, with BBC Sport reporting that City will appeal the verdict.
The news broke 1,327 days after City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023 following a four-year investigation.
Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein told Times Radio that any punishment would have to be more drastic than a fine, while Oasis star and City fan Noel Gallagher expressed surprise at the guilty verdict.
What this adds
The club's statement did not provide specific details on the appeal process or potential sanctions.
What's confirmed
- "We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity," he said.
- Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said the club is confident of proving their innocence, the day after media reported that City had been found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League financial rules in a long-running case.
What's still developing
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- The Premier League claimed that the famed club did not provide "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position." On the other hand, Man City have consistently maintained their innocence throughout the process, while also winning trophies on the pitch and enjoying a rich run in the 2020s.
- This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me - time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you." "This is why I am writing to you today.
- “It’s a confidential process, we’re not commenting at all,” a spokesperson said.
- A guilty verdict would rank among the most significant rulings in the sport’s history, raising far-reaching questions about financial regulation, competitive integrity and the league’s ability to enforce its rules against one of its most successful clubs.
- On Friday, it was announced City had been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges brought against them and Al Mubarak has responded with a letter to fans on the club's website.
- Sanctions on the club are yet to be announced, but repercussions could include a points deduction, expulsion from the Premier League or a huge fine.
- Gilroy added that, so far, four clubs have put in protective claims "reserving the right to claim compensation if City are found guilty".
- Surprised because the club have assured us all along that they vehemently denied any of these charges," the Oasis star and City fan said on the Let Me Talk podcast. "So it was a bit of a shock to find out that we've been found guilty.
- City were accused of a wide range of rule breaches, centring around claims they inflated sponsorship revenue from connected companies and made other "off the books" payments to circumvent financial regulations.
- It was revealed on Friday that City had been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges levied at them by the Premier League in relation to a string of rule violations between 2009 and 2018, including claims that their sponsorship revenue was not paid by the agreed companies and that they had made off book payments to players and staff.
- In a statement to supporters on the club website, Al Mubarak added that he believed there was much further to go in a process he remains convinced will conclude with the club vindicated.