Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has delivered a defiant message to fellow European football executives as the club prepares to challenge the findings of the Premier League’s long-running financial investigation.
Soriano spoke at a board meeting of European Football Clubs in Copenhagen ahead of the organisation’s general assembly on Tuesday, with Manchester City’s case against the Premier League a major issue surrounding the club.
According to the Press Association, Soriano told executives that the process was far from over and stressed that City would continue to fight the charges. Referring to the investigation, which began in 2018, he reportedly said: “It’s taken eight years to get here and it’s going to take a lot more time.”
Soriano left the meeting without taking questions from the media.
His comments come days after City were found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges brought against them by the Premier League. The allegations cover a range of financial regulations, including claims that the club overstated sponsorship income from connected companies and made payments outside the accounts.
City have indicated that they will appeal the findings, while the Premier League has yet to announce any sanctions. Potential punishments could include a points deduction, a significant financial penalty or, in the most serious scenario, expulsion from the Premier League.
The case is also having implications beyond Manchester City, with other Premier League clubs seeking legal advice over possible compensation arising from the charges.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has already insisted that the club remains confident it can prove its innocence, while emphasising that strict confidentiality prevents City from publicly discussing much of the legal process.
Soriano’s latest intervention reinforces the club’s position that the dispute is likely to continue for some time. With the appeal process yet to play out and sanctions still pending, the Premier League’s eight-year investigation appears set for another lengthy chapter.
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