‘Relentless’ Man City claim innocence following Premier League verdict

The Premier League has concluded an investigation into Manchester City, finding the club guilty of breaching financial rules over a nine-year period. This verdict marks the end of a nine-year legal saga. The commission ruled that City was guilty of all charges related to "serious breaches" of the league's financial rules from 2009 to 2018.

They were also found guilty of most of the four charges relating to their failure to cooperate with the investigation. The club allegedly arranged 'sham' contracts with sponsors to artificially inflate their revenue, a scheme in which companies paid only a fraction of the sponsorship fees, with the rest covered by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd, the club's ownership.

Despite this, Manchester City maintains their innocence, stating they're "disappointed and surprised" by the outcome. They claim there's a "comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence" that will prove their innocence. The club has vowed to appeal the decision, arguing the Premier League process is still ongoing with important components yet to be completed. They believe the commission's ruling contains "clear material errors, of law, principle and fact".