Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is reportedly shielded from legal action due to his diplomatic immunity in the UK. The club faces an uncertain future in the Premier League after being found guilty of all financial charges by an independent commission.
The panel found that City breached regulations over nine years between 2009 and 2018, with the club originally charged in 2023. It is understood that the eight-time Premier League champions will appeal the verdict.
City's uncertain punishment
City, who have always denied any wrongdoing, now face a nervous wait on a punishment, with rival clubs said to be pushing for any sanctions to be imposed this season. Speculation is growing over whether City could be stripped of titles from the period they have been found to have breached top-flight rules.
Relegation, a huge points deduction and possibly a fine are also on the cards, with a panel set to decide their fate - the outcome of which will depend on an appeal, which the club has until Friday to submit.
Focus on executives
City's crisis has also turned the focus on executives who work at the club. One figure who has been involved with the East Manchester side since their Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008 is Al-Mubarak, although there is no suggestion of personal wrongdoing on his part.
The Financial Times report that any potential legal action against Al-Mubarak would fail due to his diplomatic immunity. The senior Abu Dhabi official was placed on the UK's official list of approved diplomats in 2020. This automatically confers immunity from any criminal investigation and, in most cases, shields the person from civil proceedings on UK soil.
Official functions and legal debate
The report adds that one senior UK government figure said it would be "very odd" if somebody in Al-Mubarak's position did not have diplomatic status, given that he has chaired Abu Dhabi's Executive Affairs Authority, the equivalent of the UK's Cabinet Office, since 2006.
Al-Mubarak's diplomatic immunity could also reportedly complicate follow-up legal action against the club, according to lawyers, as it largely protects an individual from being sued or charged in a criminal probe in the country where he or she is an emissary.
Nick Vamos, former head of extradition at the Crown Prosecution Service, said that as well as having full protection from criminal prosecution, Al-Mubarak "would also have immunity from civil actions relating to his 'official functions'." He added that "there could be some debate about whether the activities in question were part of those functions or purely private matters".
Club's defiant stance
Al-Mubarak, who regularly attends City matches, defended the club in a statement at the weekend. He said: "While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity."
