Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reaffirmed the club’s position that it is innocent of the Premier League’s financial charges, following reports that an independent commission has found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 alleged breaches.
In a letter to supporters on Sept. 26, Al Mubarak said Manchester City’s determination to prove its innocence remained unchanged and stressed that the Premier League process was still ongoing. He said confidentiality rules prevented the club from publicly disclosing more details about its position.
The reports surrounding the case marked a major development in a dispute that has hung over Manchester City for years. The Premier League originally charged the club in February 2023 following a lengthy investigation into alleged financial-rule breaches covering the period from 2009 to 2018.
The allegations include claims that City failed to provide accurate financial information, including information relating to revenue, sponsorship arrangements, player and manager payments and other financial matters. The Premier League also accused the club of failing to cooperate with its investigation.
Manchester City has consistently denied the allegations and has maintained that it provided extensive evidence supporting its position. The club’s latest statement emphasized that the disciplinary process has not yet reached its final stage.
The reported findings have nevertheless placed the case at a critical point. While reports say the independent commission found City liable on 114 charges, the club has not accepted those findings and is expected to challenge the outcome through the available legal process. The final sanctions, if any, have not been determined.
The potential consequences could be significant. Depending on the eventual outcome and applicable Premier League rules, possible sporting and financial penalties could include points deductions and other sanctions. However, the precise punishment cannot be established until the disciplinary process and any appeals are completed.
The dispute dates back even further than the Premier League’s 2023 charges. Questions about Manchester City’s finances intensified after documents connected to the club were published in 2018. UEFA subsequently sanctioned City in 2020 over Financial Fair Play violations, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year European competition ban after finding that some allegations were not established or were time-barred.
Al Mubarak has previously expressed frustration over the prolonged controversy, arguing that the club should ultimately be judged on the evidence presented through the formal process rather than public claims and counterclaims.
The latest statement also reflects the uncertainty surrounding the case. Al Mubarak told supporters that there were matters he would like to explain but could not disclose because of the confidentiality requirements governing the proceedings.
For Manchester City, the legal dispute now remains a major issue alongside its football campaign. The club continues to compete domestically and in Europe while the disciplinary process moves forward.
The next stage will depend on the formal outcome of the commission’s proceedings, any sanctions imposed and the appeals process that follows. Until those stages are completed, the full consequences of the reported findings for Manchester City cannot be determined.
