Manchester City should ‘be judged by the information’ insists membership chairman

Manchester City must be ‘judged by the facts’ and ‘not by claims and counterclaims’, insists chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

City, fresh from winning a fourth successive Premier League title, are still awaiting an outcome for 115 charges for allegedly breaching financial rules – allegations which are strongly denied by the club – with a hearing set for November.

If City were to be found guilty following that hearing, which is expected to last six weeks, they could face heavy fines and even the possibility of expulsion from the Premier League.

But Al Mubarek, while frustrated with how long it is taking for City to have the chance to prove their innocence, wants their achievements on the pitch to focus on ‘facts’ rather than ‘claims’

‘Of course, it’s frustrating,’ he said.

 Khaldoon Al Mubarak (right) insists Man City must be ‘judged by the facts and not by claims’

The Man City chairman (centre) and his side are awaiting the outcome for 115 charges of allegedly breaching financial rules

Should the 2022-23 treble winners be found guilty of those breaches, they could face fines and even expulsion from the Premier League  

‘I think the referencing [of the alleged charges] is always frustrating. Having it being talked about the way it’s being talked about.

‘I can feel for our fanbase, and everyone associated with the club, to have these charges constantly referenced.

‘I think we as a club have to respect that there is a process that we have to go through, and we’re going through it.

‘It’s taking longer than what anyone hoped for, but it is what it is, and I’ve always repeated, let’s be judged by the facts, and not by claims and counterclaims.’

Al Mubarak was speaking days before City declared war on the Premier League – suing the competition over new financial rules in an unprecedented move.

Furious bosses at City filed a 165-page legal document claiming they are the victims of ‘discrimination’ and that regulations approved by rivals they feel are aimed at curtailing their success are the ‘tyranny of the majority’.

City have already been investigated for their dealings from 2019 to 2023, where they were forced to pay an £8.6m fine for the findings

Man City manager Pep Guardiola (second from left) with club owners Sheikh Mansour (right)

City say the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules are unlawful and are seeking to have them thrown out. They are also claiming damages which some believe could run to tens of millions. 

Under APT, introduced following the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle in 2021, clubs are stopped from inflating sponsorship deals with firms who are linked to their owners. 

‘Instead, all deals have to be independently deemed as of ‘fair market value’ (FMV).

‘I think the Premier League got to where it is today by being the most competitive league,’ Al Mubarak continued.

‘So, I hope there is a bit more sensibility in regulating. Always a balanced approach is good from all the leagues, be it in England or the rest of Europe.

‘I think you won’t see the same level as we’ve seen in the last years, because of the levels of regulations that have come into place over the last 12 months.’ 

Charges include not being truthful about compensation offered to previous managers as they were leaving the club

Al Mubarak’s frustrations continue in the transfer market, too, with rules around loans and swap deals a bug-bear.

‘There’s also been a lot of restrictions now put in place on swaps and loans, so even that is now much more restricted,’ he said.

‘So, I think the level of manoeuvrability that was in place before that allowed teams to do what they were able to do in the past, I think, is much more restricted this year and that’s going to be reflected, I believe, this summer.’