Man City chairman defiant over reported Premier League charges

LONDON: Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said on Saturday that the club were confident they could prove their "innocence" after reportedly being found guilty on all but one of 115 charges for breaching Premier League financial rules.

News of the decisions reached by an independent commission was widely reported on Friday but no official announcement has been made by the Premier League and there is, as yet, no indication of any potential punishment.

Abu Dhabi-backed City have always strenuously denied the charges and a club spokesperson said that their position had not changed. It is understood that City will appeal if the reports are confirmed.

Mubarak issued a defiant statement on Saturday, underlining his conviction that City would be vindicated, but said he was bound by "strict confidentiality."

"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," he said in an open letter.

"There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position."

Mubarak added: "There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity."

City were charged by the Premier League following an investigation into alleged breaches of regulations between 2009 and 2018.

The Etihad club were accused of failing to provide accurate financial information and details of payments to players and coaches, as well as breaches of financial sustainability rules.

They were also charged with failing to cooperate with an investigation.

City were referred to an independent commission and a hearing started behind closed doors in September 2024, lasting around 12 weeks.

The latest developments, described as a "shock" by Oasis star and City fan Noel Gallagher, could have far-reaching implications.

Sanctions could include a severe points deduction and possibly even expulsion from the English top flight, while other clubs are understood to be taking legal advice about potential compensation.

- 'Severe penalty' -

Former City chairman David Bernstein told Times Radio that a financial penalty would not be enough in terms of a potential punishment, urging a swift appeal process.

"I can't give a view on the punishment. If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of (the) charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty," said Bernstein, chairman of City from 1998 to 2003.

"All I would say is that money is not sufficient – it would have to be something, unfortunately, more drastic than that."

World Soccer writer Henry Winter told AFP that if the charges against City were proven, they would be guilty of "cheating on an industrial scale."

He said that in such circumstances "a logical way of dealing with this very fraught, seismic situation" would be to impose a huge points sanction that would effectively relegate the club this season.

"It's a huge issue. This affects the Manchester economy, this affects issues in the northwest, this affects geopolitical elements between the United Kingdom and the UAE (United Arab Emirates), who are effectively the owners of Manchester City," added Winter.

Christian Purslow, a former Liverpool managing director and Aston Villa chief executive, warned that the situation could "spiral out of control."

"A never-ending waterfall of legal claims and uncertainties for another four or five years would be absolutely appalling for the game," he told the BBC.

In 2020, European football's governing body UEFA imposed a two-year European ban on City as well as a fine for breaking financial fair-play rules, though that ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Everton and Nottingham Forest were both hit by points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Under the ownership of Sheikh Mansour, whose Abu Dhabi United Group acquired the club in 2008, City have become the dominant force in English football.

They have won eight Premier League titles, a Champions League crown and multiple other trophies over the past 15 years.