{
  "id": 10792032,
  "title": "Man City chief Soriano slams Premier League ‘conspiracy theory’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/man-city-chief-soriano-slams-premier-league-conspiracy-theory",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T21:45:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/30/man-city-chief-soriano-slams-premier-league-conspiracy-theory"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manchester City's CEO Ferran Soriano has dismissed the Premier League's guilty verdict against the club as a \"conspiracy theory.\" The club was found guilty of breaching financial rules between 2009 and 2018 by an independent commission. However, City immediately announced their intention to appeal the verdict. In a video message to staff, Soriano vowed to defend the club and seek vindication in the process. The club could face severe consequences if their appeal fails, including relegation, points deduction, massive fines, and even the stripping of eight English titles won since their takeover in 2008. Soriano insisted that the Premier League's charges are based on a single false accusation - that the club's owner secretly funneled personal money into the club through Abu Dhabi sponsors. He emphasized that irrefutable evidence, including bank statements, money transfers, and witnesses, proves that the money did not come from the owner. Soriano noted that the Premier League commission's opinion ignored the extensive evidence provided by the club, reaching a clearly incorrect conclusion. He vowed to file an appeal, highlighting past victories against similar issues, and assured that City will relentlessly pursue all legal avenues to protect the club and seek compensation.",
  "summary": "Ferran Soriano launched a vociferous defence of the club's case, insisting the league had been given 'irrefutable' evidence the charges should be dismissed.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Man City chief Soriano slams Premier League ‘conspiracy theory’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/man-city-chief-soriano-slams-premier-league-conspiracy-theory-10793140",
        "published": "2026-09-29T21:45:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Man City chief Soriano slams Premier League 'conspiracy theory'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/man-city-chief-soriano-slams-premier-league-conspiracy-theory-10806255",
        "published": "2026-09-29T22:54:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}