Reports say an independent panel upheld 114 financial breach charges against the club, while chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak vowed to fight the verdict.
An independent panel has found Manchester City guilty on 114 counts in the man city 115 charges case, according to reports published Friday. The decision upheld nearly all allegations brought by the Premier League in February 2023 over breaches of financial regulations, David Ornstein at The Athletic first reported.
The club didn’t confirm the decision, stating that its case with the league remains “ongoing.” If the findings are upheld after an appeal, potential penalties could include a severe points deduction or expulsion from the Premier League. David Bernstein, who served as club chairman from 1998 to 2003, said, “If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of (the) charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty.”
Club chairman insists on innocence
City plans to challenge the Premier League for months and is preparing an appeal. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak released an open letter to supporters on Saturday, writing that “nothing has changed” and attempting to brush off the reports as “noise.”
“The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began,” Al Mubarak wrote in his message to fans. The chairman maintained that the club remains fully confident it will prove its innocence before the legal process ends.
Reactions from players and Tuchel
Former midfielder Rodri, who won 12 major trophies with Man City including scoring the winner in the 2023 Champions League final, defended the club during a press conference with Spain before it was abruptly ended. Now with Barcelona, the 30-year-old said officials had told players to “be relaxed,” adding that he trusts the hierarchy and that no one can take away the team’s “deserved” success. In contrast, former Arsenal player Ian Wright said, “They cheated.”
The news also reached the England national team ahead of Saturday’s loss to Spain. Manager Thomas Tuchel denied that the man city charges distracted England’s squad, even though two goals in the defeat came from mistakes by current City players. Captain Harry Kane confirmed the locker room took note of the ruling, saying, “There was a discussion.”
