Erling Haaland has previously insisted he is not concerned by the charges facing Manchester City. On Friday, it was reported that City had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League.
The charges, which relate to alleged financial breaches from 2009 until 2018, were first announced in 2023. A 12-week hearing was overseen by an independent three-person commission between September and December 2024. While sanctions are currently unknown, City will be able to appeal the reported verdict, having consistently denied the allegations.
Club Statement and Haaland's Removal
A club statement read: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the club’s statement of February 2023.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
Despite the alleged breaches pre-dating Haaland’s arrival at City in 2022, the Norwegian national team have reportedly removed the striker from a scheduled press conference ahead of their Nations League match against Portugal on Sunday. While the U-turn in his schedule prevents Haaland from giving his immediate reaction to the latest update, the City star has made his stance clear on several occasions.
Haaland's Previous Comments
The 26-year-old signed a nine-and-a-half-year deal in January 2025, the longest contract in Premier League history. Haaland emphasised that he had not considered the 115 charges during his negotiations with the club.
“No, I haven't thought of that or anything,” he said at a press conference shortly after signing his contract. “I am confident that the club know what they are doing and I really don't think I should speak too much about this.”
The striker, who has scored 169 goals in 205 games for City, repeated his stance during an international break in March 2025. The forward insisted that he was not concerned about City potentially being punished for the alleged breaches, following his discussions with the club.
“I don't do that, obviously, when I sign a nine-and-a-half-year contract,” Haaland told reporters. “I've said 300 times why I signed the contract. I talked to the club, got a good feeling and agreed to it in the end. That's why.”
Reiteration and Club's 2023 Position
That summer, he reiterated his feelings on the situation when asked about the 115 charges. Haaland explained that he was happy to extend his contract with City, given what he had been told about the case.
“I spoke with the bosses, and in the end, I believe them,” Haaland said to TIME Magazine in July 2025. “It's such a tricky situation for me to even sit there and speak about, because I wasn't really involved in it. So I think the club knows what they're doing. They will sort it out.”
City’s latest update states that the club’s position remains consistent with the statement released in February 2023, which read: “Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.
“The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”
