Manchester City chief Ferran Soriano sends defiant video message to staff vowing to 'clear the club's name' after being found guilty of huge financial 'sham' - as he insists case is based on a 'single accusation'

· DailyMail

Soriano insisted the Premier League's entire case against City was based on a 'single false accusation', claiming the club had provided 'irrefutable evidence' to disprove it.

Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano has sent a video message to staff vowing to ‘clear the club’s name’ after the Premier League confirmed they had been found ‘guilty of all charges related to serious breaches’ of its financial rules.

On Friday, Daily Mail Sport reported how City had been found guilty of a series of breaches over a nine-year, glittering period in its history, in a verdict which sent shockwaves through football and opened the door to huge penalties including possible expulsion.

However, in a video message sent to club staff on Tuesday, Soriano has insisted the Premier League’s entire case against City was based on a ‘single false accusation’, claiming the club had provided ‘irrefutable evidence’ to disprove it.

> 'The whole Premier League case against us is based on a single false accusation – that the owner’s personal money was somehow and secretly put into the club via some sponsors from Abu Dhabi,' Soriano told his staff.

> '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. 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.'

It also said the club falsely altered the financial picture at the Etihad to the tune of £900m.

More to follow.

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