Manchester City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, has confirmed that the club intends to fight to prove its innocence after an independent commission found the club guilty of the vast majority of 115 charges related to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. The disclosure, which Soriano made during a Monday meeting of the European Football Clubs (EFC) board, follows a confidential ruling that surfaced last Friday but has yet to be officially acknowledged by the league or the club. According to the Spaniard, He wanted to make it clear that he disagreed with the ruling of the commission, and that he and City were confident of eventually winning their battle. Soriano is understood to have addressed the board at the start of the meeting by requesting permission to make a brief statement.
Addressing the EFC board, which includes senior figures from Manchester United and Everton, Soriano requested time to address the situation directly. He stated clearly that he disagreed with the commission’s findings and expressed confidence that the club would ultimately prevail in its challenge. The executive also cautioned that while the investigation into the allegations has already spanned eight years, reaching a definitive conclusion could require significantly more time.
This development comes amid mounting pressure from other Premier League teams, who are demanding that the commission publish the full details of its verdict. While club executives were briefed on a broad summary of the findings last Thursday, a lack of subsequent communication has left teams frustrated. One club source remarked, “All we have is a void, and it would be better for everyone if it was filled as soon as possible.”
Neither the Premier League nor the independent commission has provided a timeline for the publication of the judgment. Following the EFC board meeting, Soriano declined to provide further comments to the press. As it stands, the atmosphere among rival clubs remains one of uncertainty, with the silence surrounding the case causing growing concern regarding the final resolution of the saga. Who remain in the dark over the details of the case and the likely timeframe of any resolution, the ongoing delay is a growing source of frustration to other clubs.
Comments