Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak breaks silence with defiant promise to fans

City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak alongside former head coach Pep Guardiola (Picture: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has written an open letter to supporters urging them to remain confident the club can prove its innocence.

City have been found guilty on 114 of 115 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules following a decision by an independent panel. The charges relate to a nine-year period during which City won three Premier League titles, dating from 2009 to 2018.

The Premier League has not yet decided on what sanctions the club will face, while City are expected to appeal the verdict.

The club released a brief statement on Friday night, stating ‘significant elements’ of the Premier League’s process are still to be completed.

It also referred to the club’s previous statement on the charges from February 2023 where City expressed their ‘surprise’ over the alleged breaches, welcoming the review to ‘impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support’ of the club’s position.

In a new statement released on Saturday, Al Mubarak was unable to offer anything further regarding the process but reminded supporters ‘we have faced challenges together before and have prevailed.’

‘I have been part of this Club for 18 years,’ the statement said. ‘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.

City’s accomplishments are under the microscope (Picture: Tom Jenkins/Getty Images)

‘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.

City won three league titles during the period in question (Picture: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)

‘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.