City financial case has entered a new phase after Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano told the European Football Clubs board that the club would do everything possible to clear its name, with the process expected to continue for years.
Soriano spoke to the EFC board on Monday before the General Assembly in Copenhagen, but refused to comment publicly on an independent panel’s findings that Manchester City broke rules of the Premier League by its financial dealings.
City have been consistently denying wrongdoing, and are likely to seek to overturn the findings. There is not yet any sporting sanction imposed and the process is not completed. The case has been a hot topic at the EFC meeting, which is drawing hundreds of European club representatives. EFC chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi will speak to delegates, as will UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.
The Manchester City court case is part of a broader discussion on football governance. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is suggesting an independent external examination of the governance and decision-making process of FIFA after a proposal involving private investment in the governing body’s commercial rights business collapsed.
There has been discussion of a wider nature about the distribution of authority amongst FIFA, continental confederations, national associations, leagues and clubs.
But the main focus for City is the Premier League case. The charges span several seasons and have led to a lengthy independent process. The club would likely have a long wait in place, considering how well-liked it is expected to be. The penalties are not yet clear, and could include financial fines, sporting sanctions, or potentially more stringent penalties if eventual findings prove correct. No penalties have been announced.
