Man City respond to Premier League verdict: ‘We are innocent’

Manchester City have responded defiantly after an independent commission found the club guilty of serious breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.

The Cityzens insist they are innocent and will challenge the findings through every available avenue.

The Premier League published the commission’s core decision on Tuesday after the long-running case reached a major milestone after eight years.

Man City were found guilty of 114 of 115 charges relating to alleged financial breaches over a nine-season period between 2009/10 and 2017/18.

The commission also upheld three of four alleged breaches concerning the club’s failure to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation.

According to the Premier League, City used a series of ‘sham’ commercial agreements and other arrangements to artificially inflate revenues and reduce costs by more than £900 million.

The commission concluded that the club deliberately circumvented the league’s financial regulations, and found that its accounts did not accurately reflect its financial position.

However, Man City have rejected those conclusions.

In a strongly worded statement, the club said it was ‘disappointed and surprised’ by the commission’s opinion and claimed there was a ‘comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence’ supporting its position.

City also reiterated that the legal battle is far from over, saying they will be ‘relentless’ and, where necessary, proactive in pursuing their case through appropriate regulatory and legal forums.

The club has until Friday, October 2, to appeal the commission’s findings and says it believes the decision contains ‘clear material errors’ of law, principle and fact.

Man City also raised concerns over the independence of the Premier League’s regulatory process.

They claimed they had spent eight years proceeding on the assumption that the league’s board and executive would act as an ‘independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator’.

The Premier League has stressed that Tuesday’s verdict does not conclude the entire case.

The independent commission will now consider the separate issue of sanctions at a further private hearing.

Potential punishments under the league’s rules include fines, points deductions and other sporting sanctions.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the decision as the most significant disciplinary case in the competition’s history.

But he also acknowledged that important elements remain unresolved.

City’s response makes clear that they will challenge the verdict, setting the stage for another major chapter in this case.