Manchester City has vowed to be "relentless" in challenging an independent panel's verdict that found the club guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules across nearly a decade. The seven-time champions described the opinion as "unsafe" and confirmed they will appeal.
Premier League panel findings
The Premier League confirmed that the independent panel found City guilty of all charges relating to breaching financial rules, which the league said were designed to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs. The panel also upheld three of the four breaches relating to City's co-operation with the investigation.
League chief Richard Masters called the case the most significant in Premier League history. The league said it is "committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process to provide certainty for the league, our clubs and fans" and will press for severe sanctions, which could include significant points deductions.
City's response and appeal
City hit back in a statement, saying they will appeal "on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe." The club added: "The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums."
The 40-page verdict, drawing on around 7,000 pages of transcripts from witness and expert testimonies, was published by the league on Tuesday. A further hearing will be needed to address sanctions, although it remains unclear whether this will run alongside an appeal or come after it.
