Man City chairman vows to prove innocence after guilty verdict on 114 of 115 Premier League charges

Manchester City are facing potential sanctions ranging from a points deduction to expulsion from the Premier League after reports emerged on Friday that an independent commission had found the club guilty on 114 of the 115 charges brought against them by the English top flight.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak responded with an open letter to supporters on Saturday, maintaining that the club’s position had not changed despite the reported verdict. “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,” he wrote.

Al Mubarak acknowledged the weight of the moment for supporters, noting that many had spent Friday evening fielding questions from friends and family. He cited strict legal confidentiality as the reason he could not share the specifics underpinning the club’s confidence, adding that even his letter had undergone several legal checks before publication.

“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed,” he wrote. “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.”

City have consistently maintained their innocence since the charges — covering alleged breaches of financial fair play rules across a period of more than a decade — were first referred to an independent commission in February 2023. The club is widely expected to appeal any formal guilty finding.

The potential punishments are severe. A fine or points deduction could push City toward relegation to the Championship, while the most extreme outcome would be expulsion from the Premier League. Previous title wins could also be stripped if the commission’s findings are upheld.

The chairman’s letter was published approximately 24 hours after City issued their initial Friday statement in response to the reports, in which they also contested the characterisation of the verdict and reaffirmed their intent to fight the charges through the legal process.