FA problem Man City assertion on responsible verdict’s ‘integrity of the sport’ affect

The FA have issued a statement following Manchester City’s guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial regulations and have confirmed they are considering taking action

The FA have issued a statement on Manchester City’s guilty verdict for breaching Premier League financial regulations.

City were found guilty of 114 charges of breaking the top-flight’s financial rules by an independent commission last week. The club have until today to lodge their appeal, which they’re expected to do, as they continue to deny all wrongdoing.

Following a chaotic week, the FA have finally broken their silence on the situation and confirmed they are considering taking action, posting a statement on their website.

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It reads: “The Independent Commission’s decision has significant implications for the integrity of the game. We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate.

“As proceedings between the Premier League and Manchester City Football Club remain ongoing, we do not intend to comment further at this stage. We will, however, continue to monitor developments closely.”

The FA’s statement comes days after the Premier League spoke out about the findings of the independent panel. The league say City inflated revenue by £900million using “sham” contracts.

The Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period. It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade.

“It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City. While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.

“It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans. We take that role extremely seriously.

“This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches. Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans.”

City responded with a statement of their own, taking aim at the league: “Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.

“The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.

“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.

“The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.

“The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”