Haaland leads City dressing-room response as appeal timeline emerges after 114-charge guilty verdict

Erling Haaland is playing a central role in steadying Manchester City’s dressing room after the club was found guilty of 113 of 114 charges of breaching Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018, according to the Daily Mail.

The independent commission’s verdict, described as unprecedented in English football, sent shockwaves through the game. City have since submitted a formal appeal against the ruling, with the process expected to conclude within 12 weeks of the appeal being lodged on 1 October.

Haaland, one of the most senior figures under manager Enzo Maresca, has reportedly been the most vocal in reassuring colleagues and staff as uncertainty over the club’s future continues. Speculation over potential sanctions — including the possibility of relegation or a points deduction — has prompted widespread discussion about the futures of key players, including the Norwegian striker himself.

On the pitch, City showed little sign of distraction in their first match since the verdict, beating Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield. Haaland was among the scorers alongside Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki, with the result restoring City’s three-point cushion at the top of the Premier League.

The atmosphere at Anfield reflected the charged mood around the case. Liverpool supporters were quick to voice their feelings, with chants of “You haven’t won a trophy since 1976” ringing out from the Kop. City fans responded with inflatable bananas, a reference to the Imre Varadi banana craze from the club’s lower-league years.

City have consistently maintained their innocence throughout the lengthy legal process and continue to do so following the verdict. With the appeal now under way, the club and its supporters face a period of sustained uncertainty before any final outcome — and potential sanctions — are determined.