Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has written to supporters to say the club is as determined as ever to prove its innocence in the Premier League’s long-running financial rules case. In a letter published on the club’s official website on Saturday afternoon, he told fans the process “still has a long way to run”.
He said there was a lot he would like to explain to supporters, but the strict confidentiality of the legal process means he cannot do so for now. Even the letter itself, he said, went through several legal checks before it was published. Instead, he asked fans to read the short statement City issued on Friday, along with the club’s original response to the charges in February 2023. Both are reproduced in full below.
The letter comes after a day of heavy media coverage about the case, and Khaldoon ended it by turning attention back to the pitch. After the international break, City travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in a fortnight, before hosting Paris St Germain in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
What is confirmed and what has been reported
Confirmed by Manchester City: The club says the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed, and that it is subject to strict confidentiality. City have always denied wrongdoing, and the chairman says the club remains confident in its position.
Reported by the media: On Friday, The Athletic reported that the independent commission hearing the case had reached a decision and found City guilty of all but one of the charges, with sanctions still to be decided. BBC Sport reported that its sources had backed this up, saying City were found to have broken the majority of the rules in question, and that City would appeal. The Manchester Evening News and other outlets reported the figure as 114 of the 115 charges. The Guardian noted that there has been no official confirmation that the panel has reached a verdict.
Not confirmed: No written judgment has been published, no sanction has been announced, and the Premier League declined to comment when approached by the BBC on Friday. LoveBelfast will update our coverage when there is an official outcome.
The letter in full
The following letter from Khaldoon Al Mubarak was published on the club’s official website, mancity.com, on Saturday 26 September 2026.
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.
Khaldoon Al Mubarak
Chairman
Manchester City Football Club
Club statement, Friday 25 September 2026
The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023.
The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.
Club statement, February 2023
Manchester City FC is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.
The Club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent Commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.
As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.
Source: Manchester City’s official website. Media reports referenced: The Athletic, BBC Sport, Manchester Evening News and The Guardian.
https://x.com/AJE_Sport/status/2104353329233244589/video/1?s=46
Read more: Man City and the 115 Premier League charges: what happens next | Haaland punishes United as 10-man City win controversial derby | VAR admits Manchester derby error | City clinch a record fourth consecutive Premier League title
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
