Ferran Soriano claims ‘conspiracy theory’ after bombshell verdict for Man City

Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano with the UEFA Champions League trophy. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Manchester City chief executive officer Ferran Soriano has claimed the bombshell guilty verdict against the club is the result of a “Premier League conspiracy theory”.

City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18 by an independent commission.

The club say they will appeal “on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe”.

In a video message to club staff, Soriano said: “A document has been made public with an opinion of the Premier League commission which is negative to our interests.

“I want to explain exactly what this is, the next steps, and how we are going to continue to defend the club and finally be vindicated in this process.

“This has gone on for so long that it’s important to remind ourselves that 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. Irrefutable evidence has been provided to the Premier League commission that shows that it could not happen and that it did not happen.

“This includes bank statements, money transfers, witnesses, and everything necessary to categorically demonstrate the money did not come from the owner.

“Every other false charge that has been thrown at us and aggressively marketed and promoted comes from that simple, central, and completely false accusation.

“Surprisingly for us and for our lawyers, after nearly two years, the Premier League commission has issued an opinion that supports the Premier League’s conspiracy theory.

“To do so, the opinion had to actually ignore the extensive evidence provided by the club in order to reach a conclusion that is clearly wrong.

“Our lawyers will now file an appeal that sets out that the opinion contains clear material errors of law, principle, and fact, and it is unsafe.” In 2020 City successfully overturned a two-year ban from European club competitions, imposed by UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations, after taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

“Remember, we have been here before,” added Soriano. “In 2020, we were also wrongly ruled against for many of the same issues. We appealed to an independent body, CAS, and we won.

“We will now be relentless in our work. We will focus on the independent appeal process and also all other legal avenues available to us in order to win the case.

“And we will take all necessary action to protect the club and seek compensation from any party that tries to damage it, now and in the future.

“I know this can be a bit of a distraction, but please remain focused on our business and taking care of our extended City family, as we always do.

“Very soon, we will look back at this and recognise it as another time in our history when we dealt with adversity, and overcame it together.”