Man City ready to fight Premier League after reports that club guilty of almost all charges
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MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City plans to fight the Premier League for months if found guilty of alleged financial breaches in potentially the biggest scandal in English football history.
Reports on Friday said an independent panel had upheld nearly all of the 100-plus financial charges against the club in a case that was initiated more than three years ago.
City did not confirm the decision, saying its case with the Premier League was “ongoing.”
City, however, would appeal a guilty decision and the process would take several months, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to respect confidentiality elements of the process.
The Athletic first reported that City has been found guilty of all but one of more than 100 charges laid by the Premier League, which accused the club in February 2023 of providing misleading information about its finances over a nine-year period from 2009-18.
The report said the sanctions have not been decided and all possibilities remain open.
The BBC also reported the story.
In response, City said in a statement: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality.”
City added that its position “remains consistent” with previous comments about the case. The club has always denied the charges.
“The club has diligently respected due process for eight years,” City said, “on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”
City’s punishment could be a huge points deduction, and as extreme as expulsion from the Premier League.
When contacted by The Associated Press on Friday, the Premier League said it couldn’t comment on the reports.
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