Man City CEO Soriano Rejects Premier League Verdict, Vows Appeal
The commission found that City used what it described as “sham” commercial agreements that artificially increased the club’s revenues and reduced its costs.
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano rejects the independent commission’s findings against the club, describing the Premier League’s accusations as false and confirming that City will appeal the decision. Photo: Manchester Evening News.
By Robert Mutasi
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has rejected the independent commission’s findings against the club, describing the Premier League’s accusations as false and confirming that City will appeal the decision.
Soriano delivered the message to Manchester City staff, including players and other employees, after the Premier League announced that an independent commission had found the club guilty of serious breaches of its financial regulations covering nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18.
The commission found that City used what it described as “sham” commercial agreements that artificially increased the club’s revenues and reduced its costs. It also found that the club submitted misstated accounts, concealed its financial position from auditors and regulators, and breached Premier League and UEFA spending limits.
Soriano, however, maintains that the central allegation behind the case is untrue.
In his message to staff, the City chief executive said the Premier League’s case was based on an allegation that money belonging to the club’s owner was secretly channelled into Manchester City through sponsors based in Abu Dhabi.
He said the club had provided bank statements, money-transfer records and witness evidence to demonstrate that the alleged funding arrangement did not take place.
Soriano further argued that the commission had disregarded evidence submitted by Manchester City and reached a conclusion containing what he described as serious errors of law, principle and fact. His comments were reported after the commission’s findings were made public on Tuesday.
“We will now be relentless in our work once again,” Soriano told staff, according to the message.
The club has already confirmed that it intends to challenge the findings through the appeal process. Manchester City has until Friday, October 2, 2026, to lodge its appeal against the commission’s decision.
The dispute comes after years of legal proceedings surrounding the Premier League’s financial charges against City. The club has consistently denied wrongdoing and previously succeeded in overturning a UEFA ban from European competition at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020, although that case involved different proceedings and evidence.
The latest commission decision does not settle the matter. Manchester City’s appeal will determine whether the findings are upheld, changed or overturned. A separate process will also deal with any sanctions arising from the commission’s conclusions.
The Premier League has said it wants the entire process, including appeals and publication of relevant decisions, concluded as soon as possible.
For now, City remain firmly opposed to the findings, while the Premier League stands by the independent commission’s ruling. The next major step will be the club’s appeal before any final disciplinary consequences are determined.
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