Why does Manchester City dare to "fight on" despite the Premier League confirming their guilt in financial rule violations? Will appealing result in harsher penalties?
What happened with Manchester City?
On 29 Sep, the Premier League issued a statement confirming that Manchester City was found guilty on nearly all charges—114 out of 115 counts—of financial regulation breaches alleged over the past three years.
The "Sky Blues" immediately responded, stating they will appeal because they believe the committee's decision contains serious legal, principled, and factual errors.
Why are they confident to fight?
Ferran Soriano, Manchester City’s CEO, shared three main points explaining this.
1. They believe they have evidence to refute the claims. City has consistently maintained they possess irrefutable proof that they did not violate the rules.
This is intriguing—what exactly is that evidence? If it’s not strong, the appeal might fail and could lead to even harsher penalties. Possible evidence includes clearly documented sponsor contracts, records of money transfers, witness testimonies, and audited financial documents.
2. They have previously won an appeal in 2020. UEFA had banned Manchester City from European competitions for two years and fined them 30 million euros, but City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the decision was overturned. Soriano has referenced this precedent again.
3. The "delay strategy".
Soriano told a meeting of major clubs in Copenhagen that the legal battle with the Premier League could last several years. In a video to staff, he called the case based on "a single false allegation" and described the committee's findings as conspiratorial theories. City also questioned the Premier League's impartiality, stating the club has respected the process for eight years with the expectation that the regulator would be independent, neutral, and free from external influence.
What happens next?
No penalties have yet been determined. Manchester City’s effort to present evidence aims to reduce potential sanctions from severe to lighter ones.
However, if heavy penalties do occur—even the difficult prospect of title stripping—who would inherit those championships domestically?
Who would the "champions" be?
2011-12 Champion = Manchester United
2013-14 Champion = Liverpool
2017-18 Champion = Manchester United
2018-19 Champion = Liverpool
2020-21 Champion = Manchester United
2021-22 Champion = Liverpool
2022-23 Champion = Arsenal
***
FA Cup
2010-11 Champion = Stoke City
2018-19 Champion = Watford
2022-23 Champion = Manchester United
***
League Cup
2013-14 Champion = Sunderland
2015-16 Champion = Liverpool
2017-18 Champion = Arsenal
2018-19 Champion = Chelsea
2019-20 Champion = Aston Villa
2020-21 Champion = Tottenham Hotspur
We will have to wait and see how this case ultimately concludes.