Premier League silence on Man City prices defined with lack of assertion
Manchester City have been found guilty of 114 of 115 financial-rule charges, but maintain their innocence, with a final public outcome potentially months away.
Manchester City fans fear the consequences (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)
The sanctions handed to Manchester City for violating financial regulations could still be months away, with no official statement yet issued by the Premier League. Reports surfaced last week that City had been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by England’s top flight.
The allegations cover a timeframe between 2009 and 2018, with all bar one resulting in a guilty finding. City are anticipated to challenge the outcome and continue to maintain their innocence, as they consistently have done.
Various penalties have been speculated about in rumours, with City potentially facing anything from a points deduction or financial penalty to having some of their titles taken away, or even being kicked out of the Premier League entirely.
Manchester City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges against them(Image: Getty)
City have released two statements since news first broke of the guilty verdict, but the Premier League has remained silent publicly on the result.
A new report from BBC Sport has suggested that a sanctions hearing overseen by an independent panel will be required to determine City’s punishment. This process could still take several months to complete, suggesting that a final resolution to the matter is not anticipated in the immediate future.
The report also suggests that the outcome of the sanctions hearing are unlikely to be made public until after City’s appeal, which currently has no set timeline. This means the Premier League may remain silent on the situation entirely until a definitive decision has been reached.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak wrote an open letter to Man City supporters over the weekend(Image: Getty)
City released a statement on Friday, stating that the ‘process remains ongoing’, while the club’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, penned an open letter to fans.
In his letter, Al Mubarak wrote: “Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues.
“So have I. 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.
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“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. 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.
“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023. Every word matters and holds true.
“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.
“We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. Thank you, as always, for your constant support.”
