{
  "id": 10793140,
  "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",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T21:45:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "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 CEO Ferran Soriano has called the Premier League's guilty verdict in a financial misconduct case a \"conspiracy theory\" and vowed to appeal the decision. The club was found guilty of breaching financial rules from 2009 to 2018 by an independent commission. Soriano expressed frustration with the verdict, stating that it was based on a \"single false accusation\" and that the club had provided irrefutable evidence to the contrary. He warned that the club could face severe consequences if their appeal fails, including relegation, points deductions, and significant fines. Soriano emphasized that the club would use all legal avenues to protect itself and seek compensation. He stressed that the court's opinion ignored the extensive evidence provided by City, concluding that the verdict was \"unsafe\" and that the club would fight the decision relentlessly.",
  "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",
        "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."
}