Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has joked that he may not live to see the final outcome of Manchester City's appeal against the Premier League's financial charges verdict. The former Manchester United boss said he would be lucky to be alive when the case is fully resolved.
The Premier League confirmed last week that City had been found guilty of all but one of the 115 charges brought against the club for financial breaches. City continue to deny any wrongdoing and maintain their innocence in the appeal they submitted last Friday, claiming they have "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" that should clear their name.
Appeal timeline and potential sanctions
The appeal is anticipated to run until later this year, with another three-person independent panel overseeing proceedings before delivering a final verdict, which is expected by mid-January. It remains unclear what sanctions could be imposed on City should the original ruling survive the appeal, with potential consequences ranging from points deductions and financial penalties, to titles being stripped or expulsion from the Premier League.
Mourinho has become the latest manager to weigh in on the charges facing City, joking that a considerable amount of time will pass before any resolution is reached. "I prefer to laugh a little, because I think we'll have an ending," Mourinho said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport. "We will have an ending. But the two of us, who are nearing 60, should be lucky enough to be here when the final verdict is delivered. Because now the sentence will come, and after a year, there will be an appeal."
City's statement on appeal
City maintain their denial of the charges levelled against them, releasing a statement last week confirming an appeal had been lodged. "Manchester City Football Club can confirm that at 7pm on Thursday 1st October 2026 the club lodged its comprehensive appeal against the opinion of the Premier League Commission, in relation to the Premier League disciplinary matter," the statement from City read.
"The club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe. The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."
