Manchester City appeal Premier League ruling and insist they are innocent

Manchester City have rejected a Premier League independent commission ruling that found the club guilty of serious financial breaches, insisting they have “comprehensive and incontrovertible evidence” to support their position.

The club said it was “disappointed and surprised” by the decision and confirmed it would continue with legal and regulatory action to defend itself.

The Premier League formally announced the ruling on Tuesday after an investigation lasting several years. Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, described both the case and the decision as “the most important in the history of the Premier League”.

In a statement issued minutes after the league’s announcement, Manchester City said: “The club is disappointed and surprised by the decision of the Premier League commission, which was published today.”

It added: “The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League, and there is a comprehensive body of incontrovertible evidence which supports all of the club’s position in relation to this matter.”

Manchester City said it would continue to challenge the case “without qualification”, adding that it would take appropriate action before any relevant regulatory or legal bodies when necessary.

The club also stressed that the matter had not yet reached its conclusion, saying: “The Premier League proceedings are still ongoing and there are important elements which have not yet been resolved.”

Manchester City said it would now begin using the appeal procedures available to it, arguing that the ruling contained “clear and fundamental errors of law, principle and fact” and was therefore unsound.

The club said it had followed the legal process throughout the past eight years on the understanding that the Premier League’s management and executive leadership would act as an independent, impartial and fair regulator, free from any biased influence.

Manchester City concluded: “It is clear that the club is constrained in what it can say further until all of the proceedings to come are completed.”