Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has told fans that the club still believes in its innocence. This comes after reports of a guilty verdict on 114 financial charges from the Premier League.
Al Mubarak wrote this in an open letter to fans on Saturday. This letter followed news that an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 out of 115 charges about breaking the Premier League’s financial rules.
The Premier League's process is still ongoing, and penalties have not been decided yet. City is expected to appeal the commission’s ruling.
Al Mubarak, who has been with the club for 18 years, recognized that this news has raised questions among fans. He emphasized that City is still confident about its case.
“Here’s what I said to my family: 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,” he wrote.
He mentioned that there are details the club wants to share with fans to explain its stance. But he said legal confidentiality stops them from doing so at this time.
“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position,” he said.
“But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies,” he added.
He asked fans to carefully read the club’s statements from Friday and February 2023, saying “every word matters and holds true.”
The club had stated on Friday that the Premier League process is still ongoing, with “significant elements” yet to be completed and must stay confidential.
City also repeated its claim that it has followed due process for eight years. They believe the Premier League’s board and executive would act as an “independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
Since the Premier League sent the case to an independent commission in February 2023, the club has denied any wrongdoing.
The charges relate to claims of breaking rules between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. These include accusations about providing accurate financial information, payments to players and managers, and failures to cooperate with the Premier League's investigation.
The investigations started after allegations surfaced in 2018. UEFA had also punished the club for Financial Fair Play breaches in 2020. They gave a €30m fine and a two-season ban from European competition. But the Court of Arbitration for Sport later cancelled the ban and cut the fine to €10m.
Al Mubarak said the club won’t let attempts to undermine its progress distract them.
“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed.
“We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity,” he said.
The chairman also talked about the club’s upcoming matches. He said they have “some exciting moments” to look forward to after the international break, including a visit to Anfield and a Champions League match with Paris Saint-Germain at the Etihad Stadium.
The reported guilty findings do not automatically mean City will lose points or be kicked out of the Premier League. Possible penalties include points deduction, fines, suspension from league matches, player-registration limits, compensation, and possibly expulsion from the league. The right punishment is still to be set and can be contested through the Premier League’s appeal process.
Al Mubarak finished his letter by thanking fans for their support.
“Thank you, as always, for your constant support,” he said.
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