Manchester City Appeal Premier League Verdict in 115-Charge Case
Manchester City are preparing an appeal after being found guilty of substantive Premier League charges, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisting the club remain convinced they will clear their name.
City deny wrongdoing despite the verdict in the long-running 115-charge case. The outcome could now open the door to sporting sanctions and major compensation demands from rival clubs.
What happens next
- City will challenge the decision through the appeal process, meaning the case is not yet concluded.
- Al Mubarak told supporters on Saturday that the Premier League proceedings still have “a long way to run”.
- He said the club’s belief in establishing its innocence is unchanged from the start of the case, adding that City have overcome difficult moments before.
- The possible penalties under discussion include relegation, expulsion from the Premier League and the removal of honours won during the period under scrutiny.
- Compensation claims could follow, with the total potentially rising to £800 million. Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United have each retained the right to pursue action, while some clubs believe losses could be as high as £200m apiece.
Keane and Wright demand punishment
Roy Keane said City must face a severe sanction after the guilty findings. Speaking on ITV, he rejected recent remarks from midfielder Rodri and argued that the club had made its own choices.
“It’s about time,” Keane said. “They chose to cheat.”
Keane said determining the exact punishment would be complicated, but argued that success achieved in recent years must be considered. He described the scale of the guilty findings as a surprise and said City now have to accept the consequences.
Ian Wright also called for punishment, focusing on the effect on clubs who competed with City while complying with the rules. He pointed to Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp’s side, questioning what rival players and supporters may have lost during their title challenges.
Wright said City’s achievements and shared memories had come at the expense of teams who had done things properly, arguing that players at those clubs had missed opportunities because of the breach findings.
