Manchester City chairman maintains confidence as financial case continues

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has told supporters that the club remains confident of proving its innocence after reports that an independent commission found it guilty of 114 of 115 financial charges brought by the Premier League. In an open letter to supporters on Saturday, Al Mubarak acknowledged that the reported findings had raised questions but said the club’s position had not changed. He said the Premier League process still had a considerable distance to run and that City’s determination to contest the case remained as strong as when proceedings began.

The Premier League process is ongoing. Sanctions have yet to be determined, and City are expected to appeal the commission’s decision. The reported findings do not automatically result in a points deduction or expulsion from the competition.

Potential penalties include a fine, a points deduction, suspension from league matches, restrictions on player registrations, compensation or, in some circumstances, expulsion. Any punishment can be challenged through the Premier League’s appeal process. Al Mubarak said City could not currently disclose details supporting its position because of the confidentiality of the legal proceedings.

He said even his letter had undergone legal checks before publication and urged supporters to read carefully statements issued by the club on Friday and in February 2023. The charges concern alleged breaches between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. They include claims relating to financial information, payments to players and managers, Financial Fair Play, profitability and sustainability rules, and cooperation with the league’s investigation.

City has consistently denied wrongdoing since the case was referred to an independent commission in February 2023. Al Mubarak also said the club would not allow the case to distract it from its footballing ambitions. He thanked supporters for their backing and referred to upcoming fixtures, including a visit to Anfield and a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.