Manchester City Found Guilty of All Premier League Financial Charges, Appeal Filed
Manchester City have been found guilty of the full set of financial charges brought by the Premier League, with the club immediately moving to appeal before any punishment has been imposed.
The findings concern alleged breaches dating back to the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover. Investigators concluded that City hid operating expenditure and overstated sponsorship income, conduct said to have enabled the club to evade financial limits applied by both the Premier League and UEFA and gain an advantage over rivals.
No sanction has yet been confirmed. The appeal means the case is not final and there is no clear timetable for a conclusion, leaving City able to continue operating while the legal process runs its course.
Al-Khelaifi urges restraint
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi called for patience when asked about the case at Tuesday’s 33rd General Assembly of European Football Clubs in Copenhagen. Speaking as EFC chairman, he stressed that the proceedings remained unfinished.
“We should not judge a matter when there has not been a final decision,” Al-Khelaifi said. “We are here to help and support one another. If something has gone wrong, that is for the process to decide. I am not a lawyer, but they have a right to appeal, so this is not over.”
He described the matter as one for the Premier League and an English club, adding: “We are not able to make a judgment. We are not judges and we are not a court. We will see what happens.”
Al-Khelaifi also backed City chief executive Ferran Soriano, who sits on the EFC board. He said Soriano had been an important contributor, praising his knowledge and career while noting that he could not offer a verdict on the wider case.
“Ferran has brought a lot to the board and is a major asset because of his experience,” he said. “Manchester City have done many positive things too, but it is not for us to judge.”
The immediate focus is now on the eventual Premier League penalty, but that stage is on hold until City’s appeal has been decided.
