Man City Chief Executive sends video to club staff claiming guilty charges are based off 'one false accusation'

Manchester City Chief Executive Ferran Soriano has claimed that the Premier League's case against them is based on a 'single false accusation' in a video message sent to club staff.

Following reports late last week, the Premier League released a statement on Tuesday (September 29) afternoon confirming that Manchester City had been found guilty in almost all of the charges brought against them three years ago.

Shortly after, Manchester City released their own statement stating they were 'disappointed and surprised' by the decision, with club Chief Executive Soriano taking things a step further in an internal video message that has leaked online.

READ MORE: Premier League release official statement confirming Man City are guilty with punishment details

Manchester City Chief Executive Ferran Soriano lashes out in video message after 115 verdict

In the Premier League's statement it was confirmed that Man City were found guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the financial rules from the 2008/09 season until the 2017/18 season.

Alongside this, City were also found guilty of 'the majority' of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.

In some of the most damning cases, the Premier League revealed that City had arranged 'sham' contracts and agreements to 'inflate the club’s revenues and reduce its costs' with the Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club, funding several of these contracts.

But, in a video message sent to staff on Tuesday, the club's Chief Executive, Soriano, has claimed that the Premier League's case was based on a ‘single false accusation’ and that the commission had ignored the 'extensive' evidence proving City's innocence.

"This is just not true. Irrefutable evidence has been provided to the Premier League commission that shows it could not happen and that it did not happen," he told staff in the video message, the details of which have been shared by Daily Mail Sport.

"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 comes from that simple, central and completely false accusation.

"Surprisingly for us and our lawyers after nearly two years the Premier League’s commission has issued an opinion that supports the Premier League’s conspiracy theory.

"To do so, the opinion had to ignore the extensive evidence provided by the club in order to reach a conclusion that is clearly wrong."

Soriano then confirmed to staff that, as expected, City would be filing an appeal against the decision ahead of the deadline on Friday (October 2).

He added: "Our lawyers will now file an appeal that sets out the opinion contains clear, material errors of law, principle and fact and that it is unsafe.

"Remember, we have been here before. In 2020 we were also wrongly ruled against for many of the same issues. We appealed to CAS and we won. We will now be relentless in our work.

"We will focus on the independent appeal process and also all other legal avenues available to us in order to win the case and we will take all necessary action to protect the club and seek compensation from any party that tries to damage it."

It is currently not known how long the appeal process could take, or how likely it is that City will succeed for any, let alone all, of the guilty verdicts.

"Now, and in the future, I know this can be a bit of a distraction but please remain focused on our business and taking care of our extended City family as we always do," Soriano admitted.

"Very soon we will look back at this as another time in our history when we dealt with adversity and overcame it together. Thank you."

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What punishments could Man City face and when will they be decided?

Although it currently seems unlikely, it is technically possible that City could learn their punishment for the guilty verdicts before the end of the appeal process.

As for what this punishment, or punishments, could be, the Premier League remained tight-lipped on the matter in their statement released on Tuesday.

Addressing speculation regarding potential punishments, the statement noted: "The issue of sanction will be addressed separately in a further hearing with the independent Commission.

"In accordance with Premier League rules, that hearing will remain private and confidential until such a time as publication of the outcome is permitted."

Various punishments have been listed as potential outcomes following the verdict, with significant fines, point deductions, transfer bans or even relegation and/or expulsion from the Premier League all believed to be on the table.

READ MORE: Unprecedented 180-point Man City punishment proposed after 115 charges guilty verdict