Man City verdict LIVE: Chairman breaks silence on 115 charges in new statement

Man City verdict LIVE: Chairman breaks silence on 115 charges in new statement Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges of breaching Premier League rules and an appeal is now expected as the football world reacts Manchester City have been found guilty on 114 of the 115 charges levelled against them in their battle with the Premier League over breaches of financial rules. The verdict from the independent commission has leaked and the football world is working out how to react. City have always denied the allegations and plan to appeal against the verdict, which covers a nine-year period stretching from 2009 to 2018, meaning that the saga could yet continue for some time. City's hearing against the Premier League took place way back in late 2024. “The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence," City said in a statement. Nevertheless, rivals will now be preparing any legal action that they feel appropriate and getting ready to take advantage of whatever situation City may find themselves in. The commission can impose any punishment they see fit, with points deductions, financial penalties, or even expulsion from the Premier League, all on the table. Follow all the latest from Mirror Football below, including breaking news and analysis. Key Events Kane touches on Manchester City 'distraction' When asked by ITV whether the Manchester City news had served as a 'distraction' within the England camp ahead of their Nations League clash with Spain, Harry Kane said: "Yeah, there was a discussion but at the end of the day, when we're with England, I think that's been a big plus for us. "We, kind of, put club football to one side and it was no different this week. The boys will deal with that when they're back at their clubs. Right now, we have another two weeks with the national team and that's the most-important thing." What do you think Manchester City's punishment should be if their appeal is unsuccessful? There's plenty of speculation over potential punishments for Manchester City in the aftermath of their guilty verdict. Let us know in the comments below what you think should happen, whether it be a point deduction, demotion from the Premier League or a simple transfer embargo and fine... Ex-Man City chairman predicts 'drastic' sanctions Former City chairman David Bernstein said: “To see all this tarnished in this way is very sad, I feel particularly bad for the wonderful supporters of the club who’ve stayed with the club through thick and thin. “This whole process has taken too long already. So the appeal process now has to be done quickly because…you’ve got the club playing with this cloud over its head and it’s just not viable. “The appeal process cannot go on for year after year, I think that would be a disaster. Not just for this particular case but for English football generally.” Wright in agreement with Keane Asked where the City saga leaves the state of English football, Ian Wright said: "Not very good, not very good. I'm going to be totally honest, Pougs. "Going back to Rodri, he's talking about what he's done. He went shoulder to shoulder with the guys, and, of course, you can't take that away from them, they experienced that. "But they should take that away from them, they should be punished for it. They may have been able to experience those memories and all of those great times together, but then, when you look at all of the teams that were trying to chase them, they were doing it right. "It's not right, Pougs. What have we taken from Liverpool's legacy, [Jurgen] Klopp and that team? What could they have experienced? "Roy's right, they cheated to get it done, and people have missed out on that. Players have missed out on unbelievable opportunities for themselves. I'm glad that we finally got there." 'Cheating' City must 'take their medicine' says Keane Speaking about City's charges on ITV, Roy Keane said: "Well it's about time. It's obviously been going on a long time now and I certainly would disagree with Rodri's messages there. "It was the choice of the club, they chose to cheat, and whatever they have won over the last few years, they deserve to be punished. Where we start and finish with that, obviously it's difficult. "But they were cheating. Been found guilty of it, they have to take their medicine now. And it was kind of a shock really to be found guilty of...114 of the charges they were found guilty of? Big news it was." City trio to start against Spain Thomas Tuchel has selected Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson in his starting XI to take on Spain in the Nations League this evening. James Trafford, who joined Leeds United from the Cityzens this summer, also starts in place of Jordan Pickford. Enzo Maresca's agents give cryptic response to Man City 115 charges bombshell Enzo Maresca's reps showed reporters in the direction of Socrates when asked for comment regarding Manchester City's financial charges. The verdict of the independent panel had been long awaited since a 12 week hearing in December 2024. Read the full story below... Erling Haaland update as Norway boss explains Nations League U-turn after 115 charges Stale Solbakken says that Erling Haaland is in good shape despite being pulled from Norway's media duties this weekend following Manchester City's charge verdict. The striker has linked up with the international camp for the Nations League, learning City's guilty verdict away from his domestic team-mates. Read the full story below... Jose Mourinho's dig at Pep Guardiola on Man City charges with Man Utd bonus claim Jose Mourinho has taken aim at Pep Guardiola in the past with regard to Manchester City's charges. The Cityzens, who have always plead innocence, now await their penalty - having been found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules. Man City braced for major financial blow after 115 charges verdict Manchester City could have to deal with millions of pounds in lost sponsorship deals should their guilty verdict stand. The news broke that the club had been found guilty on all but one of their 115 charges slapped on them by the Premier League. The Cityzens were initially charged in 2023, and now, three years on, the verdict has emerged. However, the club have always maintained innocence, and are expected to launch an appeal. Noel Gallagher speaks Prem charges Speaking on the Let Me Talk podcast, Noel Gallagher said: "A little surprised because only that the club has assured us all along that they would vehemently deny any of these charges. So it was a bit of a shock to find out we've been found guilty of all but one but really overall quite sad really, sad for the fans and for the players. "Our focus as fans is always on the pitch and we know what we saw: they won it on the pitch. Whatever goes on in the boardroom it's nothing to do with the supporters or the players, the players won the game and won that [2011-12] title on the pitch. "Whether some of those players should have been there or not, that's nothing to do with the fans. We were there, we know what we saw. Does it taint it? I suppose in the eyes of everybody else in England it would but I know what I saw and I know what I felt." How long could the appeal verdict take to come? Man City are almost certain to appeal their guilty verdict, considering they have continuously plead their innocence since being slapped with charges in 2023. But how long could it take for that process to run its course? In short, there is no fixed timeframe within which a decision must be reached. Previous appeals brought by Nottingham Forest, Everton and Leicester City took anywhere between six weeks and three months to reach a verdict. Haaland to miss media duty for Norway Giving the reason Erling Haaland will not be on media duty for Norway this weekend, Stale Solbakken explained: "Of course, it is because we want to concentrate and give him the best possible conditions to concentrate on the match. You all know what the topic has been for the last 24 hours. "It has nothing to do with the Nations League and what we are going to do. A good example of that was the press conference Rodri had yesterday." Richard Keys demands apology On X, Richard Keys said: "The bottom line is Manchester City owe English football an apology. They cheated & warped our game. "I know it’s nothing to do with the guys on the pitch but most of them wouldn’t have been there if City had played by the rules. Their achievements feel very hollow right now." City chairman breaks silence In an open letter on the club's website, Khaldoon Al Mubarak wrote: "I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again - how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today. "Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began. "There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies. "I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true. "While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity. "We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium - moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. "Thank you, as always, for your constant support." Man City 'must be stripped' Piers Morgan, an Arsenal fan, has called on Manchester City to be relegated and stripped of their titles. "Let’s be clear: Manchester City have been found guilty of being the biggest cheats in English football history, and the punishment must fit their crimes. At very minimum, they must be relegated from Premier League and stripped of all fraudulently ‘won’ titles." New York response New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has even weighed in. The American is an Arsenal fan and had a simple message following the news. Floodgates open We've touched on the prospect of legal challenges but it has been suggested that the floodgates could open by Paul Stothard, partner at global law firm Norton Rose Fullbright. "This result, if upheld, will open the floodgates to further legal challenges," he said. "Manchester City being found liable for 114 out of 115 rule breaches means that other clubs may choose to pursue compensation for lost revenue, missed European qualification or relegation - though they would need to be able to prove how City's breaches impacted on their own ability to compete and their quantifiable loss." Food for thought Richard Keys has thrown a big question into the mix this morning. "Thought for the day…as angry as we are about what City have done - what’s worse - that or the fact United now have a debt of £1.1b that they’ll almost certainly never be able to service? What’s more damaging?" he posted on X. Safe to say, he's receiving some criticism. Maresca's response The Guardian report that Enzo Maresca was approached for a comment following yesterday's news and his representative simply sent a screenshot of a post from the Italian's Instagram account. It showed a quote from Socrates, the Greek philosopher. It reads: “The only thing I know is that I know nothing.” Underneath Maresca has written: “Time to breathe. Time to analyse. Time to learn.” Ex-City chief speaks out Former Manchester City chairman David Bernstein believes has called for a drastic punishment for his former employers. Bernstein was City chairman between 1998 and 2003 and told Times Radio: “I felt absolutely awful, I felt in shock yesterday, actually. I think you’ve asked me on the programme because of my time as chair of City and the FA, but basically I’m a fan of Manchester City and have been a fan for 70 years. “First of all, the timing of this I think is crucial. This whole process has taken too long already. So the appeal process now has to be done quickly because…you’ve got the club playing with this cloud over its head and it’s just not viable. “I can’t give a view on the punishment. If they are found, after the appeal, guilty of 115 charges, my beloved club is going to face a very severe penalty. All I would say is that money is not sufficient, it would have to be something, unfortunately, more drastic than that.” Public humiliation Former Conservative chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News that Manchester City's guilty verdicts will be seen as a "huge public humiliation" by the club's owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The owner is also the vice president and deputy prime minister of the UAE, and Kwarteng believes it could impact relations with the United Kingdom. Not guilty The Independent panel found Manchester City guilty on 114 charges, meaning they are in the clear on one charge. Reports claim thatthe charge that has not been proven was one of the most serious. The specific charge has yet to emerge. Stripped of titles? The Times report that Manchester City could be stripped of their Premier League titles from the period between 2009 and 2018, though it is deemed unlikely. Manchester United and Liverpool could both benefit in that instance. Most likely punishment Football finance expert Kieran Maguire believes a points deduction is the most likely punishment for Manchester City. "There is no doubt a points deduction would be the most likely outcome in the view of many," Maguire said on TalkTV. "We have seen them before for Nottingham Forest and Everton for breach of the financial limit rules. So that is feasible." Players not to blame Tottenham defender Andy Robertson has said that Manchester City's players are not to blame after the club were found guilty of breaching financial rules. The former Liverpool ace came up short against on multiple occasions, albeit following the period the club were being investigated for. He said: "I think you can hear the shock in my voice. The case has obviously been going on. For me, the [Man City] players showed they were good enough on the pitch."I don’t know too much about the charges. But they had an incredible team, one that I loved battling against."I don’t think when it comes to these things that players are ever to blame. That’s all I can focus on." Noel Gallagher 'surprised' Oasis star and Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher has revealed he is saddened by the revelation that the club have been found guilty. The singer-songwriter has revealed he was shocked to discover verdict. "A little surprised because only that the club has assured us all along that they would vehemently deny any of these charges," he said on the Let Me Talk podcast. 'So it was a bit of a shock to find out we've been found guilty of all but one but really overall quite sad really, sad for the fans and for the players. "Our focus as fans is always on the pitch and we know what we saw: they won it on the pitch. Whatever goes on in the boardroom it's nothing to do with the supporters or the players, the players won the game and won that (2011-12) title on the pitch. "Whether some of those players should have been there or not, that's nothing to do with the fans. We were there, we know what we saw. Does it taint it? I suppose in the eyes of everybody else in England it would but I know what I saw and I know what I felt." Punishments? Rule W.51 of the Premier League is the relevant section of its regulations. It outlines the sanctions available to the league for a club found guilty of breaches. They include: - “Suspend it from playing in League Matches” - “Deduct points scored or to be scored in League Matches” - “Recommend that the League expels the Respondent from membership” - “Order the Respondent to pay compensation unlimited in amount to any Person or to any Club” Culture secretary speaks out Lisa Nandy has also been on Radio 4 this morning and does not want to see the process dragged out any longer for Manchester City or their rivals. She says the government will not be involved, however. "It is not in the interest in anyone for this to drag on any longer."We welcome investment in English football from all over the world. The rules of the game are not set by investors. Investors are custodians of our football clubs, it is not for them to set the rules of the game."I say that with no comment to the owners of Man City but just as a general rule "Just as a general rule football belongs to its fans and the Premier League sets its own rules with its clubs and needs to sort it out and sort it out as quickly as possible."As the Secretary of State responsible for sport I speak to the Premier League as well as City and other clubs and have kept in close contact about this. You will know City strongly contest the charges and there is still some way to go in the process."Football does set its own rules and the Government treads lightly in that regard. We don't interfere in individual decisions, our role is to make sure that this is resolved properly and as quickly as possible for the sake of the fans." Where does it end? Former Liverpool and Aston Villa chief Christian Purslow has been on Radio 4 this morning and discussed what Manchester City's verdict could mean. I think there are probably three areas that are all in the frame here. You have the question of sporting sanctions and that would most normally be some form of points deduction. Previous parties found guilty of breaching financial regulation have had meaningful points deductions. The seriousness of these guilty findings and the scale of them, 114, they are in a completely different level to anything that has gone before. The scale of clubs impacted could be vast. It's a sort of 'where does this end' because if you look at every single season, the nine seasons in which Man City breached rules, then all of their 19 Premier League rivals in that season, to differing extents, suffered easy-to-compute loss. Every place in the Premier League is worth millions of pounds. Teams that came fifth that would have been in the Champions League would have lost millions of pounds"