Manchester City Chief executive Ferran Soriano has issued a message of defiance to the bosses of other teams over the club being found guilty of the majority of charges in the Premier League, BBC Sport has learned.
He was speaking at a meeting of the European Football Clubs Board of Directors (formerly the ECA) in Copenhagen, ahead of Tuesday’s general assembly.
Soriano reportedly vowed to fight the accusations and the process had a long way to go, reiterating what club president Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a letter to fans.
City have been accused of a wide range of rule breaches, focusing on allegations that they inflated sponsorship income from related companies and made other “off the record” payments to circumvent financial regulations.
On Friday, it was announced that they had been found guilty of the vast majority of the 115 charges against them.
Premier League clubs are seeking legal advice over compensation over the charges, while BBC Sport has learned City will appeal.
Sanctions have not yet been announced, but repercussions could include a points deduction, expulsion from the elite or a huge fine.
The Premier League declined to comment, while City issued a statement saying “the Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be finalized and is subject to strict confidentiality.”
President Al Mubarak told supporters on Saturday he was confident the club would prove his innocence.
“The Premier League process still has a long way to go, and our confidence and desire to prove the club’s innocence is just as strong as at the start,” he said.
“There is so much I wish I could 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 do not allow me to do so at the moment. Even this letter has been subject to several legal checks to ensure that it was compliant.”
Gn sports
