Erling Haaland's father, Alfie, has said his son remains fully committed to winning silverware with Manchester City despite the controversy over the club's 114 financial charges.
An independent commission ruled last month that City were guilty of 114 of the 115 financial charges levied against them, covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18. The commission found the club had artificially boosted income by £900 million through sponsorship deals designed to disguise the true source of the money.
Father's comments on Erling's focus
Speaking to ViaPlay, Alfie said his son concentrates on his performances on the pitch rather than the club's off-field troubles. "Erling thinks about playing as much football as he can and concentrates on that. I think it's more those of us outside the pitch who think a bit more about it," he said.
City have filed a formal appeal against the verdict, which is one of the most serious financial scandals in English football history. Potential penalties range from a fine and points deduction to the stripping of titles or relegation.
Appeal and fairness concerns
Alfie noted the case has been circulating for a long time and that the verdict gives City something concrete to fight against. "Obviously, these are serious allegations, but now there is an appeal case pending to be heard, so I think we have to stay calm, keep our cool, and wait to see how it turns out," he added.
He also said it would be unfair for the current squad, including his son, to be punished for alleged misconduct that happened before they joined the club. "Yes, in a way, one might feel that having to potentially take punishment for something done many years ago... yes, I would say so," he said.
No extra information and hopes for fair hearing
Alfie said he has no more information than what is in the media, which he described as "very one-sided" because City cannot defend themselves while the appeal is ongoing. He said the club hopes for a fair hearing and that the players have handled the situation well despite facing many accusations.
He also noted that the alleged events took place years ago and that today's players had nothing to do with them. "They lost their last match, so it's time to get back to winning ways," he concluded.
