Jose Mourinho has joked that the ongoing Manchester City disciplinary case will take so long that he may not live to see its conclusion. The Real Madrid manager made the remark as he addressed the Premier League charges against the club.
Mourinho's joke about the timeline
Speaking in an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho said: "I prefer to laugh a little, because I think we'll have an ending. 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."
The Premier League confirmed last week that City had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against the club for financial breaches. City maintain their innocence and confirmed last Friday that an appeal had been submitted, asserting they have "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" that would clear them of any wrongdoing.
Appeal process and potential punishments
The appeal is expected to run until later this year, with another three-person independent panel overseeing the process before reaching a final decision, which should arrive by mid-January. It remains to be seen what punishment could be given to City if the original decision stands, with potential outcomes ranging from points deductions and a fine, to titles being stripped or expulsion from the Premier League.
In a statement, City said: "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 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."
Mourinho becomes the latest manager to speak about the charges brought against City, as the club continues to deny the accusations and awaits the outcome of the appeal process.
