Man City chief tells European clubs City will fight on after guilty verdict
Manchester City will keep fighting the Premier League's financial case after being found guilty of most of the 115 charges against the club.
Chief executive Ferran Soriano gave that message to executives from other clubs in person. He spoke at a board meeting of European Football Clubs, the group formerly known as the ECA, in Copenhagen ahead of its general assembly on Tuesday, according to BBC.
Soriano was described as defiant. He told the room that City reject the verdict and believe the legal process still has a long way to run.
The verdict was announced on Friday 25 September. An independent panel, a tribunal appointed to hear the case away from the league itself, upheld nearly all of the charges. Reports put the figure at 114 of 115 alleged breaches, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
The case centres on City's finances over several seasons. The Premier League claimed the club inflated sponsorship revenue from companies linked to its owners. It also claimed City made other payments off the books to get around financial rules, the limits designed to stop clubs spending far more than they earn.
A central allegation was that City failed to provide accurate financial information when the league asked for it. City have denied wrongdoing throughout. The club confirmed it will appeal, which means asking a new panel to review the decision.
No punishment has been announced yet. Sanctions were not included in Friday's verdict and will follow separately if the guilty findings stand.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak set out the club's position in a letter to supporters on Saturday 26 September. The club argues it has been transparent and intends to clear its name through the appeal.
Other Premier League clubs are now taking advice. Several are seeking legal guidance on whether they can claim compensation linked to the period covered by the charges, according to BBC. That process is at an early stage and no claims have been filed.
For supporters, this means uncertainty will continue. City are carrying on as normal on the pitch while the lawyers prepare the next stage. The table is unchanged for now.
What makes this stand out is the scale and the time involved. The investigation and hearing have run for years, and an appeal could extend the story further. For neutrals as well as City fans, the next answers that matter are simple: whether the appeal succeeds, and what any eventual punishment looks like.
