Manchester City CEO Rejects Premier League Verdict, Calls It a “Conspiracy Theory”
September 30, 2026
Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano has strongly rejected the Premier League’s recent financial-rule verdict against the club, describing the case as being built around what he called a “single false accusation” and a “Premier League conspiracy theory.”
The comments came after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious financial-rule breaches covering nine seasons between 2009/10 and 2017/18. The Premier League said the commission found that the club used commercial arrangements that artificially increased revenues and reduced reported costs.
Soriano Defends Manchester City
In a message to Manchester City staff, Soriano disputed the commission’s findings and maintained that the club had provided evidence supporting its position.
According to reports, the City CEO argued that the central allegation — that money from the club’s owner was secretly channelled through Abu Dhabi sponsors — was false. He also said the commission’s conclusions contained significant legal and factual errors.
Soriano indicated that Manchester City intends to challenge the ruling through the available appeal process.
What Did the Premier League Commission Find?
The independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges related to serious financial-rule breaches during the nine-season period covered by the investigation.
The Premier League said the club had arranged commercial agreements that misrepresented the true arrangements with some partners. According to the league, those schemes inflated revenue and reduced costs by more than £900 million over the period.
The commission also found Manchester City guilty of three of four alleged breaches concerning cooperation with the Premier League's investigation.
Manchester City Plans an Appeal
The verdict does not represent the end of the case. Manchester City has rejected the accusations and said it will appeal, arguing that the commission’s opinion contains material errors of law, principle and fact.
The club has until October 2 to lodge its appeal. Meanwhile, no sporting sanction has yet been imposed, with the punishment to be determined through a separate process.
Possible Consequences Remain Unclear
The eventual consequences for Manchester City remain uncertain. Depending on the outcome of the disciplinary process and any appeal, possible sanctions under Premier League rules can range from financial penalties to points deductions or expulsion from the competition.
Any decision could have wider implications because some of the alleged breaches cover a period during which Manchester City won major domestic trophies.
For now, however, the club's immediate focus is on challenging the commission’s findings and defending its position through the appeal process.
Conclusion
The Manchester City financial case has entered a new stage following the independent commission’s verdict and Ferran Soriano’s strong response.
While the Premier League says the commission established serious financial-rule breaches, Manchester City continues to deny wrongdoing and plans to appeal. The next major development will come through the appeal and subsequent sanctioning process.