Mancini addresses second-contract claims as Manchester City await sanctions

Roberto Mancini has addressed reporting about a second contract during his spell as Manchester City manager, saying the matter was not his concern while maintaining that the club were not guilty. According to the Guardian, the Italy coach made the comments at a press conference ahead of Monday's Nations League match against Turkey, following reports of a ruling in City's financial case.

Watch the highlights:

Mancini referred to a double contract but placed responsibility for the issue with the club. The Guardian reported that Der Spiegel had obtained evidence concerning advisory payments connected to a club in Abu Dhabi. BBC Sport identified the club as Al Jazira and said the German publication had alleged the consultancy arrangement was fictitious. Those descriptions remain attributed allegations, rather than admissions by Mancini about the nature of the work.

The comments follow reports on Friday that an independent panel had ruled against City on almost all the charges brought by the Premier League. BBC Sport reported that all but one count had been upheld, with sanctions still to be determined. The Premier League declined to comment, so the reported findings have not been accompanied by a public league explanation in the coverage cited.

City continue to deny wrongdoing. In their response, reported by the BBC, the club said the proceedings remained ongoing, that significant elements were unfinished and that confidentiality restrictions applied. The Guardian also reported that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak reiterated the club's position in a letter to supporters on Saturday, expressing continued confidence in establishing City's innocence.

The case followed a four-year investigation, with the Premier League bringing more than 100 charges in February 2023. BBC Sport reported that the matter went to an independent commission and that a private hearing began in September 2024, lasting around 12 weeks. No final punishment was identified in that report.

Mancini's City tenure included the club's first Premier League title in 2012 and an FA Cup triumph. He left in 2013 after the FA Cup final defeat by Wigan. His latest remarks address an aspect of the financial allegations linked to that period, while the wider disciplinary process remains unresolved.