{
  "id": 10806255,
  "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",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T22:54:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/09/1544299/man-city-chief-soriano-slams-premier-league-conspiracy-theory"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manchester City's chief executive, Ferran Soriano, denounced the Premier League's financial misconduct verdict as a \"conspiracy theory\" and vowed to appeal the decision. The club was found guilty of breaching financial rules from 2009 to 2018, but Soriano vowed to clear their name. In a video to staff, he criticized the commission's negative opinion and promised to defend the club. Punishments for an unsuccessful appeal could include relegation, a points deduction, or a large fine. Soriano claimed the case was built on a single false accusation that the club's owner secretly funneled personal money into the club via Abu Dhabi sponsors. He emphasized they have irrefutable evidence proving the accusation is false, including bank statements, money transfers, and witnesses. Soriano stated City's legal team would prove the Premier League verdict is \"unsafe\" by highlighting material errors in the opinion, and they would explore all legal avenues to protect the club and seek compensation.",
  "summary": "LONDON: Manchester City chief executive officer Ferran Soriano said on Tuesday his club will be vindicated after blasting the guilty verdict for breaching financial rules as a “Premier League conspiracy theory.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "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"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}