Manchester City Rejects Wrongdoing Claims As Landmark Premier League Case Drags On

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reaffirmed the club’s denial of wrongdoing as its long-running legal battle with the Premier League moves towards an appeal following reports of a verdict in the landmark case.

Reports said an independent tribunal had found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches brought against the club. However, the process is not over, with City maintaining its innocence and expected to challenge the findings through an appeal.

The Premier League brought the charges in February 2023, alleging financial and regulatory breaches covering 2009 to 2018. The accusations include providing misleading financial information, particularly regarding sponsorship revenue, player and manager payments, and failing to comply with league regulations.

Of the 115 charges, 80 concern alleged financial and regulatory breaches, while 35 relate to alleged failures to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

The case has its roots in documents published by German magazine Der Spiegel in 2018. The leaked material raised allegations about sponsorship arrangements involving Abu Dhabi-linked entities and payments connected to former City manager Roberto Mancini. City have consistently rejected the allegations.

The Premier League case is separate from UEFA’s earlier Financial Fair Play investigation. In 2020, UEFA found City guilty of serious FFP breaches and imposed a two-year European ban. The Court of Arbitration for Sport later overturned that punishment, finding that allegations were either not established or were time-barred.

Al Mubarak told supporters on Saturday that the club’s “confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence” remained as strong as when the case began. He said confidentiality rules prevented him from explaining the basis for that confidence, adding that “nothing has changed” despite the latest reports.

Potential Premier League sanctions could include points deductions, fines, suspension or expulsion from the competition.

The case concerns a period when City won league titles in 2012, 2014 and 2018. Since 2012, they have won eight Premier League titles and their first Champions League trophy in 2023.