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Manchester City have confirmed they will appeal the independent commission’s findings after being found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
The club responded shortly after the Premier League published its statement confirming the verdict, maintaining that it remains innocent of the allegations brought against it.
City said they were “disappointed and surprised” by the commission’s decision and insisted they have substantial evidence supporting their position.
“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 said.
City prepare to challenge verdict
The independent commission found that City arranged “sham” contracts, filed misstated accounts and concealed the true state of their finances during the period under investigation.
The Premier League also said three of four alleged breaches concerning City’s failure to co-operate with the investigation were upheld.
City, however, have rejected the findings and said they will pursue every available avenue to challenge the decision.
“The club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums,” their statement added.
The club also argued that the commission’s opinion contains “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact” and described the findings as unsafe.
“The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it,” the club said.
Sanctions remain on hold
The guilty verdict does not immediately determine what punishment City could face.
The Premier League still has to consider appropriate sanctions, with possible penalties having been widely debated following the commission’s findings. Any eventual punishment would also be subject to the appeal process.
City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano was in Denmark this week for a private meeting of the European Football Clubs’ executive board but did not publicly comment on the case.
Reports have claimed Soriano privately indicated that the process could take considerably longer before reaching a conclusion.
City’s statement also suggested the club would limit further public comments while the remaining proceedings are ongoing, saying it is “restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”