Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano delivered a firm message to fellow European club leaders regarding the recent finding that his club is guilty of the majority of Premier League charges. Speaking at a meeting of European Football Clubs in Copenhagen on Tuesday, Soriano vowed that the club would continue to contest the allegations, maintaining a stance consistent with that of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
According to accounts of the meeting, Soriano told the assembly of executives that the current situation stems from an investigation initiated in 2018. He remarked, “it’s taken eight years to get here and it’s going to take a lot more time,” before departing the event without addressing media inquiries. Attendees at the meeting reportedly included Everton owner Dan Friedkin, appearing in his role as owner of Roma, and Manchester United’s chief of international football relations, Jean-Claude Blanc. He then left the meeting without answering any questions from the media.
The underlying case involves 115 charges against Manchester City, alleging a broad spectrum of rule breaches. These accusations center on claims that the club inflated sponsorship revenues from associated firms and utilized “off the books” payments to bypass financial regulations. Following the revelation on Friday that the club was found guilty of the vast majority of these charges, legal discussions among other Premier League sides regarding potential compensation have begun.
While Manchester City is expected to appeal the outcome, official sanctions have not yet been determined. Potential consequences remain a subject of industry speculation and could include heavy fines, points deductions, or expulsion from the Premier League. But repercussions could include a points deduction, expulsion from the top flight or a huge fine, sanctions are yet to be announced.
The Premier League has opted not to provide comment on the matter at this stage. In a brief statement, Manchester City emphasized that the legal proceedings are ongoing, governed by strict confidentiality, and contain significant elements yet to be resolved.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who has served alongside Soriano since the latter joined the club in 2012, wrote to supporters on Saturday to express his confidence in the club’s position. He stated that the intent to prove innocence remains as firm as it was when the investigation began.
Al Mubarak noted that while he would like to share further details to clarify the club’s confidence, he is prohibited from doing so by the confidentiality requirements of the legal process. He assured fans that even his public letter was subjected to rigorous legal vetting to ensure compliance with these constraints.
