The Premier League has yet to release an official statement after Manchester City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against them for financial breaches between 2009 and 2018. The penalty handed to City could still be months away, with an independent panel expected to convene a sanctions hearing to determine the punishment.
Charges and potential punishments
All but one of the 115 charges resulted in a guilty verdict, covering a period from 2009 to 2018. City are expected to appeal the outcome and continue to maintain their innocence, as they have always done.
Potential punishments circulating in the rumour mill include a points deduction, a fine, the stripping of some titles, or even expulsion from the Premier League.
City's response and appeal process
City have released two statements since the news of the guilty verdict first broke, but the Premier League has so far declined to comment publicly on the outcome. A fresh report from BBC Sport suggests that an independent panel will convene a sanctions hearing to determine the punishment for City, a process that could take several months to conclude.
The report further claims that the result of the sanction hearing is unlikely to be made public until after City's appeal, which currently has no set timeframe. This means the Premier League may withhold any comment on the matter entirely until a final ruling has been reached.
Chairman's open letter to fans
City released a statement on Friday confirming that the 'process remains ongoing', while the club's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, penned an open letter to fans.
In the letter, Al Mubarak wrote: "Following Friday's media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues.
"So have I. Here's what I said to my family: 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.
"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. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.
"I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true.
"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.
"We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium - moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. Thank you, as always, for your constant support."
