Manchester City must be ‘judged on the facts’ and ‘not on the basis of claims and counterclaims’, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insists.
City, fresh from winning a fourth successive Premier League title, are still awaiting an outcome on 115 charges of alleged breaches of financial regulations – charges strongly denied by the club – with a hearing scheduled for November.
If City were found guilty after that hearing, which is expected to last six weeks, they could face heavy fines and even the possibility of expulsion from the Premier League.
But Al Mubarek, while frustrated at how long it is taking for City to get the chance to prove their innocence, wants their on-field performances to focus on ‘facts’ rather than ‘claims’.
“Of course it’s frustrating,” he said.
Manchester City, the three-time 2022-2023 winners, face 115 charges for breaching FFP rules and regulations
‘I think the reference [of the alleged charges] is always frustrating. Being talked about as it is being talked about.
“I feel strongly that our fanbase and everyone involved in the club are constantly being referred to these allegations.
“I think as a club we have to respect that there is a process we have to go through, and we are going through it.
“It’s taking longer than anyone hoped for, but it is what it is, and I have always reiterated: let’s judge on the facts, and not on claims and counterclaims.”
Al Mubarak spoke just days before City declared war on the Premier League, slamming the competition in an unprecedented move over new financial rules.
Furious City bosses filed a 165-page legal document claiming they are victims of ‘discrimination’ and that regulations adopted by rivals they say are aimed at limiting their success are the ‘tyranny of the majority’ is.
City says the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules are illegal and is seeking to have them thrown out. They are also seeking damages that some say could amount to tens of millions.
Under APT, introduced after the Saudi-led takeover of Newcastle in 2021, clubs will be banned from blowing up sponsorship deals with companies linked to their owners. Instead, all deals should be independently deemed to have their ‘fair market value’ (FMV).
“I think the Premier League got to where it is today because it is the most competitive league,” Al Mubarak continued.
‘So I hope there is a little more sensitivity in the regulation. A balanced approach is always good from all competitions, whether in England or the rest of Europe.
| Type of infringement | Number of charges related to infringement | Date of trial | Decision date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to provide accurate and current financial information from 2009-10 to 2017-18 | 54 | ||
| Failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation from 2009-10 to 2017-18 | 14 | ||
| Failure to comply with UEFA Rules, including UEFA Club and Licensing Rules and Financial Fair Play | 5 | Fall 2024 | Summer 2025 |
| Breaches of Premier League profitability and sustainability rules from season 2015-2016 to season 2017-2018 | 7 | ||
| Failure to cooperate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to present | 35 |
City have already been investigated for their actions between 2019 and 2023, with them having to pay an £8.6 million fine for the findings
Man City manager Pep Guardiola (second from left) with club owners Sheikh Mansour (right)
The charges include not being honest about the compensation offered to previous managers when they left the club
“I don’t think you’re going to see the same level that we’ve seen in recent years because of the levels of regulation that have been introduced over the last 12 months.”
Al Mubarak’s frustrations also persist in the transfer market, where the rules surrounding loans and swap deals are a nightmare.
“There are also a lot of restrictions now on swaps and loans, so even that is much more limited now,” he said.
‘So I think the level of maneuverability that was previously there, which allowed teams to do what they could do in the past, is much more limited this year and that will be reflected, I think, this summer. .’