Disputes over how sports leagues, federations and clubs write, apply and enforce their rules, and over how those bodies and their owners are held to account.
Published coverage on this page: 1 case · 4 statements. Statements are ordered newest first.
An independent commission found Manchester City arranged "sham" sponsorship contracts to disguise owner funding between 2009/10 and 2017/18. City denies it, says the decision is unsafe and will appeal. As of October 1, 2026, no sanction has been set.
Published
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4 matching statements
Role at the time: Manchester City chief executive, in an internal video message to staff
Response to this claim
Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano said in a video to staff on September 29, 2026 that the Premier League case against the club "is based on a single false accusation" that the owner's personal money was somehow and secretly put into the club through sponsors from Abu Dhabi, and that bank statements, money transfers and witnesses show "the money did not come from the owner."
Quotation excerpt
“This has gone on for so long that it's important to remind ourselves that the whole Premier League case against us is based on a single false accusation. That the owner's personal money was somehow and secretly put into the club via some…”
“This has gone on for so long that it's important to remind ourselves that the whole Premier League case against us is based on a single false accusation. That the owner's personal money was somehow and secretly put into the club via some sponsors from Abu Dhabi. This is just not true. Irrefutable evidence has been provided to the Premier League Commission that shows that it could not happen and that it did not happen. This includes bank statements, money transfers, witnesses and everything necessary to categorically demonstrate the money did not come from the owner. Every other false charge that has been thrown at us and aggressively marketed and promoted comes from that simple, central and completely false accusation. Surprisingly for us and for our lawyers, after nearly two years, the Premier League Commission has issued an opinion that supports the Premier League's conspiracy theory. To do so, the opinion had to actually ignore the extensive evidence provided by the club in order to reach a conclusion that is clearly wrong.”
Relative to the proposition that City used sponsorship contracts the commission described as shams, and related arrangements, to misstate its finances and circumvent the Premier League's financial rules, as the commission found, Soriano calls the central accusation false ("This is just not true") and the commission's conclusion "clearly wrong." That is a flat rejection of the finding, so we used Denied. The closest competing label is Challenges the characterization, because he calls the league's case a "conspiracy theory" and the decision an "opinion," but he goes beyond disputing labels and says the owner's money did not enter the club.
Role at the time: Manchester City FC, in a club statement issued the day the Premier League published the commission's decision
Response to this claim
Manchester City said on September 29, 2026 that the club "is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League," that "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions," and that the commission's opinion "contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
Quotation excerpt
“Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today. The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of…”
“Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today. The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums. The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe. 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. The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete.”
Relative to the proposition that City used sponsorship contracts the commission described as shams, and related arrangements, to misstate its finances and circumvent the Premier League's financial rules, as the commission found, the club says it is innocent of the accusations and that irrefutable evidence supports its positions. That rejects the finding outright, so we used Denied. The closest competing label is Challenges the characterization, because the statement also criticizes the commission's opinion and the league's process, but it goes further and states the club's innocence.
Role at the time: Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club
Response to this claim
Manchester City said on September 29, 2026 that the club "is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League," that "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions," and that the commission's opinion "contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
Quotation excerpt
“If Man City are found guilty, which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said, then there's conversations to be had. But right now I'm very confident and very, very calm. I'm very proud of what I've achieved and what I did with…”
“If Man City are found guilty, which I don't think they are because of what Khaldoon said, then there's conversations to be had. But right now I'm very confident and very, very calm. I'm very proud of what I've achieved and what I did with Manchester City and what we achieved as a team. And that doesn't change. That doesn't change until you tell me.”
Relative to the proposition that City used sponsorship contracts the commission described as shams, and related arrangements, to misstate its finances and circumvent the Premier League's financial rules, as the commission found, Hart says he does not think City are guilty, relying on the chairman's letter, and says he remains very confident. That rejects the finding, so we used Denied. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, because he adds that if City are found guilty there are conversations to be had, but his stated view is that they are not guilty. He spoke before the commission's decision was published.
Role at the time: Chairman of Manchester City, in an open letter to supporters
Response to this claim
Manchester City said on September 29, 2026 that the club "is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League," that "a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions," and that the commission's opinion "contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe."
Quotation excerpt
“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…”
“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.”
Relative to the proposition that City used sponsorship contracts the commission described as shams, and related arrangements, to misstate its finances and circumvent the Premier League's financial rules, as the commission found, the chairman says the club's confidence in proving its innocence is as strong as when the case began and that the club feels confident in its position. That asserts innocence and rejects the reported finding, so we used Denied. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, because the letter looks ahead to proving innocence and was written before the commission's reasons were published.
Gary Neville is an English football pundit, businessman and former professional footballer who spent his whole playing career at Manchester United, where he was captain for five years. He won eight Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles and was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2025. He has worked as a pundit for Sky Sports, and he founded the sports media company The Overlap, whose programmes include the Stick to Football podcast.
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David Kogan OBE is a British media executive and the chair of the Independent Football Regulator. The regulator's website says he has had a 45-year career in television and sport, negotiating television rights deals for sporting bodies including the Premier League and the English Football League, and that he is a former managing director of Reuters Television and former chief executive of the Magnum photo agency. He was appointed chair for a five-year term, announced on October 6, 2025.
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Andy Burnham is a British politician who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party in July 2026. GOV.UK says he became Prime Minister on July 20, 2026, after being elected Labour leader on July 16, 2026, and that he returned to Parliament as Member of Parliament for Makerfield in June 2026. He was Member of Parliament for Leigh from 2001, served in government from 2007 to 2010, and was elected Mayor of Greater Manchester in May 2017 and re-elected in 2021 and 2024.
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Jurgen Klopp is a German football manager and former player who managed Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. He left Liverpool in May 2024 and was Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer from January 2025. The German football federation (DFB) announced on July 24, 2026 that he would become head coach of the Germany men's national team from August 15, 2026, on a four-year contract through the 2030 World Cup.
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Jamie Carragher is an English football analyst and former professional footballer who spent his whole career at Liverpool, making 737 appearances and serving as vice-captain for ten years. He won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool and earned 38 senior England caps. Since retiring in 2013 he has worked as a pundit for Sky Sports, as part of CBS Sports' Champions League coverage and as football columnist for The Telegraph.
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Lisa Nandy is a British Labour politician who has been Member of Parliament for Wigan since May 2010. She has been Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport since July 20, 2026, according to GOV.UK, which says she held the earlier title of Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from July 5, 2024 to July 20, 2026. Before entering Parliament she worked at the homelessness charity Centrepoint and then at The Children's Society. She studied politics at Newcastle University and is the author of All In: How We Build a Country That Works.
1 case and 1 statement
Ferran Soriano is a Spanish businessman who is chief executive officer of City Football Group, according to the group's website, and is also described as Manchester City's chief executive in BBC Sport reporting. Before joining Manchester City in 2012 he was vice-president for the economy and general manager of FC Barcelona from 2003 to 2008, after earlier roles in consumer goods, telecommunications and management consulting.
1 case and 1 statement
David Bernstein is a British businessman and chartered accountant. He was chairman of Manchester City Football Club from 1998 to 2003 and chairman of the Football Association from 2011 to 2013.
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Richard Masters is a British football executive who has been chief executive of the Premier League since December 2019. He joined the league in 2006 as director of sales and marketing, after earlier commercial roles at the English Football League and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and was interim chief executive before his permanent appointment.
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Wayne Rooney is an English former professional footballer and manager. He is Manchester United's all-time leading goalscorer with 253 goals, also played for Everton, D.C. United and Derby County, and retired as a player in January 2021. He has since worked as a manager and broadcaster, and his official website says he launched his own YouTube channel and The Wayne Rooney Show podcast in August 2025.
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Joe Hart is an English former professional goalkeeper who now works as a football pundit. He began at his hometown club Shrewsbury Town, joined Manchester City in 2006 and won two Premier League titles there, won 75 England caps, and finished his career at Celtic, retiring at the end of the 2023-24 season. He works as a pundit for BBC Sport, including Match of the Day and BBC Radio 5 Live.
1 case and 1 statement
Khaldoon Al Mubarak is an Emirati business leader and government official from Abu Dhabi. Mubadala Investment Company's website names him as its Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, and City Football Group's website names him founding chairman of the group and chairman of Manchester City since 2008. According to the group's website he also chairs the boards of Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Emirates Global Aluminium and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, and chairs the Executive Affairs Authority.
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