September 29: Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano says the club will fight back after being found guilty of the vast majority of 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League.
Speaking in Copenhagen at the end of a board meeting of European football clubs, Soriano addressed a room of European club executives in a defiant tone.
Soriano is understood to have expressed his confidence that City will win their legal battle in the end. He also pointed out that it has been eight years since allegations of financial impropriety against City were first made and that it could take “much longer” to conclude.
Later in the day, Soriano declined to comment when asked by reporters.
The City Council is expected to appeal. Premier League regulations set out a strict time frame, with an appealing party having to appeal within 14 days of a decision being announced.
In February 2023, Manchester City were charged with more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League rules between 2009 and 2018. City were accused of failing to provide accurate financial reporting, as well as breaches of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Abu Dhabi ownership had taken control of the club in 2008, embarking on an ambitious project to establish City as a domestic and European power. The investment brought a succession of major honours, including the Champions League under Pep Guardiola.
But the club’s success has come under scrutiny due to a reported verdict in which he was found guilty of 114 of 115 charges. The Premier League has yet to comment.
The city’s president, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, responded with a letter that said: “After the media report on Friday, many of you will have spent the night answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. Me too.
“This is what I told my family: the Premier League process still has a long way to go, and our confidence and our intention to prove the club’s innocence is as strong as when it started. There is so much I wish I could share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at (email protected)
