Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League rules, according to reports, but the club has been given fresh hope regarding the 115 charges brought against them. A sports lawyer has suggested that the amount of time taken to reach a verdict could put the independent panel overseeing the case under “serious scrutiny”.
Guilty verdict and appeal expected
Reports emerged on Friday claiming that City had been found guilty on all but one of the charges brought against them by the English top flight. The club maintains its innocence despite the guilty verdict, with an appeal expected. There is now a wait to discover what punishment could be handed to City, which could be confirmed before or while the appeal takes place.
City were first charged back in 2023 for alleged financial breaches dating between 2009 and 2018, and it has taken three years for a verdict to be given. A court hearing lasted three months between September and December in 2024, with an official verdict yet to be confirmed.
Chairman's open letter
A report in The Times has provided hope for City, with a sports lawyer claiming that the amount of time taken potentially puts the case under some “serious scrutiny”. It remains to be seen when the verdict will be officially confirmed, with City still maintaining their innocence, as outlined by the club’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, in an open letter this weekend.
“I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul,” he said. “This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.”
“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.”
Club confident despite noise
“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,” he added.
“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.”
He added: “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.”
