Soriano tells European club chiefs Manchester City will fight reported ruling

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has told fellow European club executives that the club will challenge a reported adverse ruling in their Premier League financial case. According to reporting by the Guardian and BBC Sport, Soriano used a meeting in Copenhagen on Monday to reject the findings and express confidence in City's position.

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The intervention came at a board meeting of European Football Clubs, formerly the European Club Association, ahead of its Tuesday general assembly. The Guardian reported that Soriano had declined to speak to journalists on arrival but later addressed the board. Manchester United's Jean-Claude Blanc and Dan Friedkin, attending through his role with Roma, were among those present.

Both outlets reported that an independent commission had found City guilty of a large majority of the charges against them. However, the Guardian said the verdict had not been formally confirmed and that the Premier League had neither commented nor indicated when its judgment would be published. City continue to deny wrongdoing, and no sanction has been announced.

The case concerns more than 100 alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules. BBC Sport reported that the charges followed a four-year investigation and were brought in February 2023. Allegations included inflated sponsorship income from connected businesses and payments made outside the club's accounts. A private hearing started in September 2024 and lasted approximately 12 weeks.

BBC Sport said Soriano's message echoed chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak's letter to supporters on Saturday and stressed that the process was far from complete. The broadcaster also reported that City would appeal. In its response to the reported findings, the club has maintained that significant parts of the proceedings remain unfinished and subject to confidentiality.

The consequences remain unresolved for City and their Premier League rivals. BBC Sport reported that other clubs were seeking legal advice about possible compensation. It listed a points deduction, removal from the top flight or a substantial fine among potential sanctions, rather than confirmed outcomes. Soriano's comments set out City's intention to keep contesting the case while those questions remain open.