Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak vows club will fight 114-case report

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says the club’s determination to prove its innocence has not weakened after reports claimed it had been found guilty of 114 of 115 charges brought by the Premier League.

No official ruling has been published, but reports said Manchester City had been cleared of only one allegation in the case. The club is preparing to appeal the decision in the coming days.

In a statement published on Manchester City’s official website, Al Mubarak acknowledged the pressure facing those connected with the club and said his own family had asked him about the reports.

“Following what was published in the media on Friday, many of you will have spent the evening answering questions from your friends, families and colleagues, and replying to their messages,” he said. “I went through the same thing.

“This is what I told my family: the Premier League proceedings still have a long way to go, and our confidence and determination to prove the club’s innocence remain as strong as they were at the beginning of this case.”

Al Mubarak said legal restrictions prevented him from explaining the club’s position in greater detail.

“There are many things I wish I could share with you to help you understand why we have such confidence in our position,” he added. “However, the strict confidentiality surrounding the legal proceedings, and our commitment to respecting it, mean I cannot do so at this stage.

“Even this message went through several legal reviews to ensure it complied with the proceedings.”

He also rejected the suggestion that the club’s position had changed despite the reaction to the reports.

“While some were quick to draw their own conclusions amid all the noise surrounding us, nothing has changed,” Al Mubarak said. “We have faced challenges together before and overcome them. There are still people seeking to undermine the momentum our club is enjoying, but we will not give them that opportunity.”

The chairman pointed to Manchester City’s upcoming fixtures as a focus for the club after the international break.

“We have some exciting moments to look forward to after the international break,” he said. “We will travel to Anfield in two weeks, before welcoming Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.

“These matches give us the opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family.”

If Manchester City are found guilty, possible sanctions under Premier League regulations range from financial penalties and a points deduction to expulsion from the competition.

A points deduction could be applied retrospectively, potentially opening the possibility of the club being stripped of some of its previous titles.

The charges relate to allegations that Manchester City failed to provide accurate financial information, as well as alleged breaches concerning payments to players and coaches, financial fair play rules, and profitability and sustainability regulations.

Manchester City has denied all the charges and continues to insist it is confident in its legal position.