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Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has told fellow European club executives that the club will continue fighting the Premier League’s financial case, warning that the legal battle could take considerably more time to reach a conclusion.
Soriano made the comments during a meeting of the European Football Clubs (EFC) board in Copenhagen on Monday, ahead of the organisation’s general assembly.
According to people familiar with the meeting, the Manchester City chief executive told fellow club executives that the club disagrees with the reported findings and remains determined to prove its position.
The remarks came just days after reports emerged that an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 financial-rule charges brought by the Premier League.
Soriano: Legal battle could take years
Soriano reportedly reminded executives that the case has already taken around eight years since the Premier League investigation began.
He indicated that the process still had a long way to go and could take considerably longer before a definitive conclusion is reached.
Sky News reported that Soriano expressed his determination to fight the case and highlighted the lengthy process already involved. He declined to answer questions from reporters after leaving the private meeting.
The Guardian also reported that Soriano told members of the EFC board that City remained confident of eventually winning its legal battle.
City continue to maintain their innocence
Manchester City’s position remains that the Premier League process is still ongoing.
The club has not publicly confirmed the reported 114 guilty findings. Instead, City said that significant elements of the process remain to be completed and that the proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has also maintained that the club remains confident it can prove its innocence.
In a message to supporters, Al Mubarak said the club’s confidence and determination to defend its position remained as strong as when the case began.
What are the 115 charges about?
The Premier League case covers allegations relating to Manchester City’s financial conduct over a number of seasons.
The charges include allegations concerning the accuracy of financial information, sponsorship revenue, operating costs and payments involving players and managers.
The Premier League announced the charges in February 2023 following a lengthy investigation.
The independent commission subsequently held a hearing that lasted several months, with the proceedings concluding in late 2024.
Reports now indicate that the commission has reached findings on 114 of the 115 charges, although the judgment itself has not yet been publicly released.
No sanctions have been announced
Manchester City’s reported guilty findings do not mean the club has already been punished.
No sanctions have yet been announced.
Possible consequences discussed in reports include a financial penalty, points deduction or other sporting sanctions, although the eventual punishment will depend on the formal process and any subsequent appeal.
The scale and timing of any sanctions therefore remain uncertain.
The Premier League has not indicated when the full judgment or punishment will be published. Other Premier League clubs have reportedly expressed frustration at the lack of publicly available information about the case.
Premier League clubs seek clarity
The reported findings have also created uncertainty among other Premier League clubs.
Some clubs are seeking legal advice over whether they could pursue compensation connected to the alleged breaches.
The Guardian reported that several clubs are also pushing for the commission’s judgment to be published so that they can better understand the findings and potential consequences.
Any compensation claims would represent a separate legal issue from the Premier League’s disciplinary process.
Manchester City’s appeal expected
Manchester City are expected to challenge the findings through the available appeal process.
The club has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to due process and has rejected the allegations against it.
The reported findings therefore represent another major stage in a case that has already lasted years, rather than the final end of the dispute.
Soriano’s latest comments reinforce the club’s position that it intends to continue defending itself.
What happens next?
The next major steps will involve the publication of the commission’s findings, the determination of any sanctions and Manchester City’s expected appeal.
Until those stages are completed, the ultimate consequences for Manchester City remain unclear.
For now, the club continues to compete in the Premier League while preparing for what could become a prolonged legal battle.
Manchester City’s message remains clear: the club intends to fight the case and believes the process is far from over.
This article was updated on September 29, 2026. The reported 114 guilty findings have not yet been publicly published in full by the Premier League or Manchester City, and no sanctions have been announced.
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