Man City to fight guilty verdict, Soriano tells European clubs

Manchester City will fight to clear their name after being found guilty of most of the Premier League's 115 charges against the club.

Chief executive Ferran Soriano gave that message in person on Monday 28 September to fellow club leaders in Copenhagen. He asked for time at the start of a European Football Clubs board meeting to reject the ruling and insist City would win in the end, according to The Guardian.

The meeting brought together the 30-member board on the eve of the organisation's general assembly. In the room were Jean-Claude Blanc, head of Ineos Sport and Manchester United's chief of international football relations, and Everton owner Dan Friedkin. Soriano has sat on the board as the Premier League's representative since 2023.

The verdict itself has still not been published. Club executives were given a broad outline of the findings of the independent commission — a panel appointed to hear the case away from the league — last Thursday 24 September. Reports then emerged on Friday 25 September that City had been found guilty on all but one charge, or 114 breaches, according to Reuters.

Neither the club nor the Premier League has publicly confirmed that outcome. The league has not commented and has given no date for publication. A number of Premier League clubs are now pushing for the full judgment to be released as soon as possible.

Soriano told the board the case has already run for eight years since the first allegations of financial misconduct were made against City. He warned a final answer could take considerably more time. City are expected to appeal, with the club saying the process remains ongoing.

Midfielder Rodri has publicly backed the club's stance, saying he believes in City's innocence after the reports of guilt on most charges. Soriano offered no further public comment. He declined to answer questions from reporters after the meeting, including from Sky Sports as he left in Copenhagen.

For fans, this means waiting. The result on the pitch stands. The legal contest off it does not. Until the commission publishes its reasons and any appeal is heard, the most important document in English football remains unseen.