Soriano warns Manchester City case could run for years
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has told fellow European club executives that the club’s dispute with the Premier League could take years to conclude, despite reports that an independent commission has found against City on most of the charges they face.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has told members of the European Football Clubs (EFC) board that the club intend to continue fighting the Premier League’s financial charges and expect a lengthy process before the case is resolved.Soriano addressed the board in Copenhagen after reports that an independent commission had upheld 114 of the 115 charges against City, although neither the league nor the club have published the decision or confirmed the reported figure.According to people present at the meeting, Soriano said: “It’s taken eight years to get here, and it’s going to take a lot more time.”He reportedly told executives that City disagreed with the commission’s findings and remained confident of clearing their name, before declining to answer reporters’ questions when he left the meeting.City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak gave supporters a similar message in an open letter, saying: “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.”The club have also stressed that significant stages remain subject to strict confidentiality, while the Premier League have declined to comment on the reported outcome.City were charged in February 2023 following an investigation into alleged breaches concerning financial reporting, player and manager remuneration, and cooperation with the league’s inquiries.The commission heard the case between September and December 2024, but its written findings and any proposed sanctions have yet to be made public.An appeal is expected if the reported findings are confirmed, while a separate stage will determine any punishment if breaches are ultimately upheld.Potential sanctions under Premier League rules include fines, points deductions and other sporting measures, making the final outcome significant for City’s finances and competitive position as well as for the league’s approach to enforcement.Soriano’s intervention came during an EFC board meeting ahead of the organisation’s general assembly, placing City’s dispute before executives from clubs that could be affected by the eventual ruling.His warning also underlines the gap between the reported commission decision and a final outcome, with the appeal, sanctions and any further legal challenges still to be resolved.