Roberto Mancini distances himself from Manchester City payment allegations

Roberto Mancini has distanced himself from allegations about his pay during his time as Manchester City manager, saying the issue is for the club to address. BBC Sport reported his comments on Monday, after reports that an independent panel had found City guilty of the vast majority of the Premier League's financial-rule charges against them.

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Mancini, now Italy's manager, was questioned at a news conference before the Nations League match against Turkey. He said the alleged arrangement was not his concern and maintained that City had not been found guilty. His response came despite the reported findings; sanctions against the club have not yet been determined.

The BBC said the case included 14 alleged failures to supply accurate information about player and manager payments between 2009-10 and 2017-18. It also recalled Der Spiegel's allegation that Mancini received compensation through a consultancy arrangement with Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira. Those payment claims remain allegations in the reporting, rather than an admission by Mancini of wrongdoing.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has separately reaffirmed the club's position. In a letter to supporters reported by BBC Sport on Saturday, he said City remained confident of establishing their innocence and stressed that the Premier League proceedings still had a long way to go. He said confidentiality requirements prevented him from sharing the reasons for that confidence, adding that even his letter had undergone legal checks.

The Premier League has made no official announcement of the findings and has declined to comment, according to the BBC. City, meanwhile, have said significant parts of the process remain unfinished and subject to confidentiality. BBC Sport also reported that the club would appeal and that other Premier League clubs were seeking legal advice about possible compensation relating to the charges.

The proceedings began with charges in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The case covers the managerial tenures of Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, as well as Pep Guardiola's first two years at City. With sanctions still unannounced and an appeal expected, the reported verdict has not yet settled the club's eventual punishment.