Rodri breaks ranks and goes public with unusual stance on Man City 115 charges verdict

Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has explained how he believes the club are innocent of any wrongdoing after being found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges of financial rule breaches they were accused of by the Premier League.

City were found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations on Friday (September 25).

According to The Athletic, the potential sanctions have not been decided, with the possibility of a large fine, a points deduction or relegation all remaining on the table. City are expected to appeal.

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Rodri speaks out on Man City 115 charges verdict

Despite the bombshell news, Barcelona midfielder Rodri, who made 298 appearances for the club between 2019 and 2026, believes his former side remain innocent.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Spain’s Nations League match with England, the 30-year-old said: “They always express the confidence that they never did something wrong, and we believe in that.

“Until the moment they are proved wrong, we will believe the club. They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence.”

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Rodri then referred to City previously being cleared of financial fair play charges by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2020, having initially been given a two-year ban from European competitions by UEFA.

“We had the example of 2020 that the process was the same, and at the end nothing happened,” he explained.

“We have faced something similar; we had a similar judicial process – different accusation, but similar process.

“There as well, in the first instance, we were found guilty, but we believed in the club and the innocence that the club maintained, and in the end we ended up acquitted.

“So, I believe in the justice system, and I believe in the innocence of the club.”

City were first charged in February 2023 before the case was referred to an independent commission.

The charges relate to a period between 2009 and 2018, when City won three Premier League titles – in 2012, 2014 and 2018 – as well as three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup.

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When pressed on City potentially being stripped of titles, Rodri added: “What we did, they cannot take out of us.

“It’s something that is not paid by money. It’s paid with effort, with the damage, with, you know, being shoulder to shoulder every day.

“I can tell you that everything was deserved, and I’m glad that I could live one of the best eras of English football in here.”

Man City issue statement on 115 charges verdict

After the verdict dropped on Friday, City released the following statement: “The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such, Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023.

“The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

Since the charges were brought against them in 2023, the Manchester-based club have strenuously denied any wrongdoing, claiming they have a "body of irrefutable evidence" that has been provided as part of their defence.

Man City 115 charges in full

Here is a full breakdown of the charges laid against City by the Premier League, with a small minority of the charges also involving UEFA:

• Failure to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009/10 to and including 2017/18 – 54 alleged breaches
• Failure to co-operate with Premier League investigations from December 2018 to February 2023 – 35 alleged breaches
• Failure to provide accurate financial reports for player and manager compensation from 2009/10 to and including 2017/18 – 14 alleged breaches
• Breaches of Premier League profitability and sustainability regulations from 2015/16 to and including 2017/18 – seven alleged breaches
• Failure to comply with UEFA’s regulations, including UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations – five alleged breaches