Man City lodge appeal, call guilty verdict ‘unsafe’

Manchester City said Friday they have lodged a "comprehensive" appeal against an independent commission's ruling that found them guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules. The club called the decision "unsafe" and said it "contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact."skysports+1

The appeal was filed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, ahead of Friday's deadline. The Premier League confirmed it had been lodged with the Chair of its Judicial Panel. "The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions," City said.reuters+2

What the commission found

The verdict was published Tuesday. It found that City used "sham" commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than £900 million ($1.19 billion) over nine seasons, from 2009-10 to 2017-18. City were found guilty of all the financial charges and of three of the four charges that they failed to cooperate with the investigation. The commission found that Abu Dhabi sponsors paid only £119.25 million of the £949.94 million recorded in club accounts. It said the remaining £830.69 million came from the Abu Dhabi United Group, the company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.nbcnews+1

City chief executive Ferran Soriano rejected the findings in an internal video to staff, which was obtained by Sky News. "The whole Premier League case against us is based on a single false accusation: that the owner's personal money was somehow and secretly put into the club via some sponsors from Abu Dhabi. This is just not true," he said.espn+1

According to Sky Sports News and ESPN, City are expected to argue on appeal that the extra money came from the Abu Dhabi government rather than the club's owners. The commission had already rejected that explanation. It called it "untrue" and said the club had "concocted [it] well after the event."rte+2

What comes next

A new three-member appeal board will hear the case in private. Under league rules, the hearing should take place within 12 weeks of the appeal being filed, and a decision is due within 30 days after the hearing ends. The board will review the commission's decision rather than rehear the case in full. By Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol's count, that timeline points to a final ruling around the third week of January.skysports+1

City have not yet been punished. Possible sanctions range from a reprimand or fine to a points deduction or expulsion from the league, and no club has ever been expelled from England's top flight. It is unclear whether sanctions will be announced before the appeal is decided.reuters+1

Wider pressure

England's Football Association said Friday that the decision "has significant implications for the integrity of the game." It said it "will take action where appropriate." On Thursday, Downing Street said Prime Minister Andy Burnham considered the ruling "serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules." The same day, Treasury Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier asked HMRC, Britain's tax authority, to look at the case.rte+1

Etihad Airways, City's main sponsor, said it "categorically rejects any finding" that it was involved in improper arrangements and is considering legal action against the Premier League. While the case continues, City, who lead the league, play away at Liverpool on Oct. 11.nst+1